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Steven Defour was among Burnley’s highest-paid players in 2016/17, according to wage databases—but the estimates disagree on whether he was the sole top earner. He has since retired from playing and moved into coaching at KV Mechelen. A report published in March 2026 said he had left the head-coaching role and did not appear set to return to coaching imminently; his exact current occupation has not been confirmed by a primary source.
Who was Burnley’s best-paid player around 10 years ago?
Steven Defour is the player most often identified as Burnley’s top earner in the available 2016/17 wage estimates. One database lists him alone at £33,000 per week. Another lists him level with Robbie Brady and Patrick Bamford at £35,000 per week each. Neither figure is an official club salary disclosure, so the evidence supports calling Defour one of Burnley’s highest-paid players—not naming a definitive, uncontested top earner.
| Source | 2016/17 estimate | What it says about the ranking |
|---|---|---|
| SalarySport | Defour: £33,000 per week | Names Defour as the season’s top earner; database estimate, not an official club disclosure. |
| FBref, with data attributed to Capology | Defour, Robbie Brady and Patrick Bamford: £35,000 per week each | Lists the three as tied and marks each figure “Unverified estimation.” |
The numbers should not be averaged or treated as a confirmed payroll record. They refer to the 2016/17 season, rather than establishing Defour’s exact weekly pay throughout calendar year 2016.
How Defour arrived at Burnley
Burnley signed Defour from Anderlecht in August 2016 on a three-year deal. BBC Sport reported the transfer fee as a club-record £8 million at the time. BBC Sport’s signing report establishes the timing and deal, but not his salary.
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Where Steven Defour is now
Defour retired after a 17-year professional playing career that included Genk, Standard Liège, Porto, Anderlecht, Burnley, Royal Antwerp and KV Mechelen. The Belgian Pro League’s retrospective says he joined Mechelen’s technical staff after retiring; another league retrospective likewise describes him continuing in football at the club.
He later became KV Mechelen’s head coach. A March 2026 report by Voetbal24 said he had left that job nearly two and a half years earlier and did not appear likely to return to coaching imminently. That is a secondary report, not current official confirmation. His exact current job as of October 8, 2026, remains unconfirmed by a primary source.
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