Players aged under 23 in the Women’s Super League 2 (WSL2) are not guaranteed to earn the equivalent of the national living wage for a typical full-time worker, despite the introduction of minimum salaries this season. The new pay floor requires clubs to pay 21- and 22-year-olds at least £22,200, and 18- to 20-year-olds at least £17,500, based on a minimum of 20 hours of contact time per week excluding matchdays and mealtimes.
Under UK law, employees aged 21 and over must be paid at least £12.21 per hour, equating to £23,810 annually for a 37.5-hour week. For 18-year-olds on the national minimum wage of £10 per hour, the annual figure is £19,500. The real living wage of £13.45 per hour amounts to £26,227 a year, while in London it is £14.80 per hour, or £28,860 annually. The minimum salaries for under-23s in WSL2 fall short of these benchmarks.
Holly Murdoch, chief operating officer of WSL Football, said when the minimum salaries were announced in September: “We wanted to make sure that they could focus on being a footballer, not focus on a part-time job.” The new floor represents a significant increase from previous seasons, when some clubs reportedly paid as little as £9,000 a year. Blackburn Rovers withdrew from the second tier before this season, citing unsustainable demands.
It is understood that many WSL2 clubs are paying well above the minimum, with the vast majority of 18- to 20-year-old players at least 15% above the floor. The minimum amounts were set after consultation with the Professional Footballers’ Association and are largely seen as a step forward, with sources noting a careful balance was needed for long-term financial sustainability. A significant proportion of lower-paid WSL2 players previously relied on second jobs.
In the top-tier WSL, minimum salaries are higher: £42,500 for players aged 23 and over, £34,700 for 21- and 22-year-olds, and £26,900 for 18- to 20-year-olds. A WSL spokesperson said: “This initial floor establishes a baseline and it’s a foundation we are fully committed to building upon.” The spokesperson added that the floor is higher than the minimum wage for an equivalent age based on 20 hours per week.
Salary cap rules also apply this season, limiting the player wage bill to 80% of club revenue plus up to £4m or 25% of revenue (whichever is higher). Breaches can result in fines and points deductions. The company running the leagues published its first accounts, showing an operating loss of £8.2m and revenue of £17.4m, with commercial revenue tripling since the split from the FA. A £20m loan from the Premier League, drawn down in part, will not be repaid until the 2030-31 season.
