Adam Wharton's wages at Crystal Palace compared to what he was earning at Blackburn Rovers | OneFootball

The midfielder has been one of the biggest breakout stars of 2024 since his Eagles move, but how much of a financial boost was the London move?

From playing mid-table Championship football in January, to joining Gareth Southgate's England side in a major tournament in June, Adam Wharton has perhaps been the breakout star of 2024.

Avid Championship fans would have been well aware of Wharton's immense potential long before he became a relative household name. By the end of January, the then-teenager had played in all but two of Blackburn Rovers' league matches, impressing immensely in an otherwise struggling side.

The deal that saw Wharton achieve Premier League status, a February 1st signing to Crystal Palace, could see the Lancashire club earn as much as £22m. However, the Eagles will likely have already categorised this move as a significant bargain.

The pivot midfielder's performances in Oliver Glasner's side have seen the 20-year-old heralded as one of the country's greatest talents.

Although it may be bittersweet seeing one of their homegrown players excel away from Ewood Park, such is the appeal and economic disparity of the Premier League compared to the Championship, Rovers could never realistically keep hold of someone of Wharton's talents.

But the question is, aside from the transfer fee, just how much did it cost the South London club to acquire Wharton's services?

Adam Wharton's salary at Crystal Palace

According to estimates from Capology, the England international received a substantial pay-rise upon his move to Selhurst Park, increasing his annual income almost six-fold.

Wharton, a boyhood Blackburn fan, joined the Riversiders in 2010, aged just six.

He signed his first professional contract in February 2022, a two-and-a-half-year deal that saw the youngster join his older brother, Scott Wharton in representing the former Premier League champions, the specifics of this particular deal are unknown.

Having impressed in his opening few first-team matches and earning an England U19 call-up, Wharton was offered an extension in September that year, keeping him in contract for a further five years.

By December 2023, Wharton was a first-team staple with top-flight clubs circling for his signature. "We believe Adam is the English player with the highest potential outside the Premier League," stated director of football Gregg Broughton, with a believed 623% pay rise reflecting their satisfaction.

Staggeringly, if Capology's estimates are correct, the Palace deal saw Wharton's annual salary increase from ~£50,000 to £1.8m in the space of two months. For context, under his original five-year Rovers contract, he would have had to play until he was 56 to accumulate what he now earns in just one year.

Wharton's relationship with Blackburn Rovers

As many players tend to do, Wharton likely knew he had outgrown Ewood Park, but wanted to strengthen his contract in order to guarantee both he and his beloved team received the largest fee possible upon his departure.

Despite now being a fan favourite south of the Thames, Wharton is an unashamed Rovers fan, having been a mascot as young as four-years-old.

His tenure at Ewood Park ended amicably, with the midfielder ensuring his fellow supporters of his distanced allegiance.

“Having been here for so long, I’ll always be drawn to the club," he told the club website after his exit. "I’ll follow them and I’ll watch as many games as I can. I’ll go back to being a fan like I used to be, so I’ll be watching from afar and cheering the lads on.

“Finally, I just want to say thank you to everyone – the fans, the staff, everyone at the Academy – and I’m sure I’ll see everyone again real soon. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about everyone at the club and I wish everyone the very best.”

Wharton may be continuing to make the club money, as his England debut in June reportedly activated a contract clause that saw the club earn a 'significant payment', while the sell-on fee is believed to be between 10-15%.

Having collected a passive silver medal at Euro 2024 with England despite not seeing any game time, he will look to reestablish himself in Thomas Tuchel's midfield. The Blackburn-born prodigy has the potential to be the club's greatest-ever export.