Armando Broja Net Worth, Salary & Estimated Wealth

Armando Broja’s online bios state that he was born in Slough, Berkshire, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Having fled the Albanian Civil War in the late Nineties, his parents came to England where temporary accommodation was found. So it was that for the first few years of his life the future Chelsea and Fulham ace shared a single hotel room with his parents and two sisters.

All he recalls from those early years was owning a tiger teddy bear that doubled up as a pillow.

Broja’s father was – and remains – a huge inspiration, not only working every hour on construction sites but coming home late in the evening and ensuring that his son put in extra football practice.

At the end of every session the youngster was coerced into running 20 laps of the field. If not done satisfactorily, it was 30.

Aligned with his natural ability, such discipline paid off when Broja was the star turn in a tournament when playing for his local side Burnham Juniors. Tottenham had sent a scout to assess another player but the forward so impressed he was recommended to join Spurs’ under-8s side. 

But it was Chelsea who he yearned to play for. Taken to Stamford Bridge at the age of four by his mum’s cousin, Broja fell in love with the Blues who at the time were always favourites in the football betting as they dominated English football under Jose Mourinho. 

Switching to their academy aged 10 therefore was a dream come true. 

For the next few years Broja rose through the ranks, helping Chelsea win the U18 Premier League and the Premier League 2. He was a constant threat up front and a regular scorer of goals. 

And then in March 2020, while still a teenager, the striker was sent on with minutes to spare against Everton, to make his professional debut. 

It was all a long, long way from that cramped hotel room.  

How Much Is Armando Broja Worth?

The forward’s net worth is estimated to be just north of £8.5m, a figure largely derived from wages, signing-on fees and bonuses.

In February 2020, Broja signed his first professional contract with Chelsea that saw his annual salary rocket from £5,200 to £78,000. Just a year later after excelling on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, then joining Southampton for a season, he penned a new improved deal that more than doubled that sum.

Twelve months after that, a long-term contract was secured that will keep Broja at Stamford Bridge until 2028. That deal alone made Broja a millionaire several times over. 

Presently, the 22-year-old brings in £78,000 a week and a touch over £4m a year basic.

An agreement to wear Nike boots and merchandise will also have been lucrative but that pales to the exclusive deal signed with Puma late last year.

As part of the collaboration, Puma have committed to opening a store in Albania as well as helping to launch a charitable foundation in the country. 

Unlike many of his peers, the young footballer does not live a particularly lavish lifestyle though clothes and cars are his weakness. A top-of-the-range Mercedes SUV is his pride and joy.

Family Life

Broja remains extremely close to his parents, crediting them for his success. He said recently, "Mom and dad have always been by my side, they have helped me. I think people don't appreciate their parents enough."

The same applies to his extended family who he visits in Albania at least once a year.

For 18 months, the striker dated an Albanian girl but has recently been seen on the arm of Jade Wills, a social media influencer. 

Posting a photo of breakfast made by the player, she described her new boyfriend as her ‘everything’. 

Club Career

A loan spell in Holland proved to be the making of Broja, the youngster reaching double figures in the Eredivisie for Vitesse. 

Highly regarded at youth level and having now made an impact in one of Europe’s bigger leagues, the 20-year-old was a wanted man in the summer of 2021, with a clutch of clubs seeking to aid his development further. 

It was Southampton who won out, bringing him to the south coast and though six goals in 32 outings may not scream prolific Broja acclimatised well to the Premier League, showing himself to be an able targetman.

The question was though, could he make the grade at Chelsea, a club known for purchasing ready-made superstars.

Regrettably, that question still remains, with the striker netting just three times for his boyhood club before succumbing to a serious injury. Once recovered, he was loaned out to Fulham where first-team appearances were sparce. 

Albania

England came calling early in Broja’s career, attempting to persuade the forward to join the under-21 set-up but that offer was declined. When still a Chelsea youth star, he instead made his international bow for Albania, at under 19 level. 

"I went for it because I have got Albanian blood in me, I am Albanian, my parents are Albanian so it was an easy decision," he later said.

A full debut arrived in the autumn of 2020, with his first senior goal for his country coming a full year later, and Broja is now an established figure for the Red and Blacks as they embark on their second ever major tournament adventure this summer.

Albania may be rightfully priced up as rank outsiders in the online betting but qualifying for Euro 2024 was achievement enough.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*