L’Equipe Magazine have produced their annual report on France’s top 50 sportsmen and women salaries. Olivier Giroud is reportedly entering the top 10 earners, sitting in ninth place.

The report use calculations for 2015’s revenues before taxes. They have spoken to the stakeholders in the sports industry in order to evaluate the wages, match bonuses, other bonuses like signing on fee and all commercial deals (such as publicity campaigns and image rights).

According to them, Olivier Giroud has climbed three places from 2014, up to ninth. His accumulated revenue is at 8.6m€ (around £6.2m) in 2015, up 3.5m€ from the previous year.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 20: Olivier Giroud of Arsenal reacts after missing a chance during the Emirates FA Cup fifth round match between Arsenal and Hull City at the Emirates Stadium on February 20, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud pockets a tidy £6.2m a year according to L’Equipe. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

That £6.2m is made up from his £100,000-a-week new contract signed in September 2014, all his matchday bonuses (appearance and win bonuses), a clothing contract with Puma and a Hugo Boss commercial.

Giroud is lagging far behind the French top 3 sportsmen, each of whom earn a lot more than the Arsenal striker. Ranked first is Tony Parker who plays in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs and earned around 19.9m€ in 2015. He is followed by Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema (15.3m€) and then Franck Ribéry of FC Bayern München (14m€).

If we compare this information with the article from the Daily Star about the Arsenal players wages, it seems consistent. The Star have Mesut Özil as the top earner with £140,000 a week followed by Alexis Sánchez with £130,000 then Theo Walcott at £110,000.

They agree that Giroud is in fourth place at £100,000 a week alongside Petr Čech at the same rate. New signing Mohamed Elneny is said to be 13th joint highest earner on £65,000-a-week. David Ospina could be on a well earned £40,000, while Francis Coquelin pockets a comparatively meagre £20,000. Calum Chambers and Héctor Bellerín are on £10,000 only.

The last named players wages seem extremely low comparing to the paying market, so you do wonder if the figures are correct.

Overall Olivier Giroud is certainly a well paid player at Arsenal and his performances on the pitch certainly deserve a good wage for all that he brings to the team with his unselfish play combined to his goalscoring record.