Martin Braithwaite Is Now Barcelona's Richest Player

Martin Braithwaite is now Barcelona's richest player due to the success of his US real estate business, according to Forbes.

The 30-year-old striker has had an incredible rise in the game since joining Barcelona in February last year, just 12 months after he left Championship side Middlesbrough to join then-LaLiga outfit Leganes. 

But with Barcelona yet to sort out fresh terms with star man Lionel Messi - who is currently a free agent as a result - Braithwaite is now Barcelona's richest player.

The forward is said to earn £85,000-per-week at the Nou Camp, meaning he is only joint-14th in the highest-earners list alongside midfielder Carles Alena.

But Forbes via Marca report that Braithwaite's company - NYCE Companies - is booming in the US and worth a staggering £181million ($250m), four years on from investing in the business.  

Braithwaite invested around £617,000 ($850,000) back in 2017 with his uncle, Philip Michael, and it grew to be worth £7.2m ($10m) by the end of the year. 

However, it is now 25 times the size with Braithwaite and Michael owning 1,500 apartments and having a further 500 currently under development as they attempt to provide affordable housing in historically black neighbourhoods across Philadelphia and New Jersey.