Bruno Fernandes and Virgil van Dijk lose millions in earnings | Football | Sport

The financial incentives for such a move are clear for two key reasons: The eye-watering wages being paid to stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and the reality that no income tax applies to footballers’ earnings in Saudi Arabia, versus 45 per cent in Britain on incomes exceeding £125,000.

The tax list was topped by bookmakers Betfred, who contributed £400m to the public finances. The likes of Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran and Anthony Joshua join the aforementioned Premier League stars in the top 100.

Following publication of the report, a Treasury spokesperson said: “The UK remains an attractive place to live, invest and run a business, with a highly progressive tax system.

“Our tax-to-GDP ratio and main capital gains tax rate are lower than any other European G7 member, and the headline rate of corporation tax is capped for the rest of this Parliament at 25 per cent – the lowest in the G7.”