Football’s top ten earners: Neymar joins the list of richest stars after penning mega-bucks contract at Barcelona
Brazil's superstar signs five-year, £275,000-a-week deal but his pay is dwarved by fellow countryman Hulk's contract in China
NEYMAR finally put pen to paper on his long-awaited new contract at Barcelona.
The Brazilian forward, 24, will remain at the La Liga giants until at least 2021, taking home a whopping £275,000 per week in the process.
Not only that, but Neymar will have a buyout clause in his contract of an incredible £200million - set to rise over the course of the five years up to around £220m.
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Barca have been in talks with Neymar since June regarding this new deal, but have only now concluded what has been a long, drawn-out saga.
He has a staggering £210m buy-out clause. You can see where he ranks in our list of football's biggest release clauses by clicking here.
Earlier this week, Barcelona said: "The act to officialise Neymar's contract renewal will take place on October 21 at the club's offices at 3pm.
"As the club have previously announced, Neymar's new contract with FC Barcelona will end on June 30, 2021."
Neymar’s dad had previously confirmed there was interest in his son all summer from various clubs, including Manchester United.
On penning the new, mega-bucks deal, where does the Brazilian now rank in terms of the highest earners in the world?
Well, he's not quite at the top of the money-making wizards, with compatriot Hulk incredibly topping the charts with his astronomical £320,000-a-week wages at Shanghai SIPG taking that honour.
Former Southampton man Graziano Pelle - now also in China with Shandong Luneng Taishan - comes in second on an eye-watering £290,000.
For context's sake, that is the same as Manchester United's world-record buy Paul Pogba - who cost the Premier League side a whopping £109m in the summer.
They all earn more than arguably the best two players in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - who earn £288,000 and £275,000 respectively.
Therefore Neymar ties with his Barca team-mate in joint-fifth...
How long until the final leg of the fearsome MSN trio, Luis Suarez, ('just' £205,000) comes knocking for a £275,000-a-week payday?
Manchester trio Wayne Rooney, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero come in next, with Roo raking in £260,000 to the City pair's £230,000.
Amazingly, Hulk's team-mate in China Asamoah Gyan rounds off the top ten on £227,000 per week.
FULL LIST (wages per week):
1 HULK - £320,000
2 GRAZIANO PELLE - £290,000
3 PAUL POGBA - £290,000
4 CRISTIANO RONALDO - £288,000
5= NEYMAR - £275,000
5= LIONEL MESSI - £275,000
7 WAYNE ROONEY - £260,000
8 YAYA TOURE - £230,000
9 SERGIO AGUERO - £230,000
10 ASAMOAH GYAN - £227,000