Swans Set to Secure Chad Warner with a Record $1.4 Million-A-Year Deal, Potentially Making Him AFL’s Highest-Paid Player

The top talent on this year’s trade market may soon be off the radar, with reports suggesting that Chad Warner is poised to recommit to Sydney.

The standout midfielder had been widely speculated to make a return home to Perth, with West Coast actively pursuing his signature.

However, Tom Morris, chief footy reporter for 9News Melbourne, indicates that the Swans are increasingly confident that Warner will remain with the club, although no formal agreement has been reached as yet.

AFL Media’s Cal Twomey anticipates that a two-year contract will be in play, carrying him through to free agency at the end of 2027, where he is expected to make a long-term decision regarding his future.

Twomey reports that the deal could be worth up to $1.4 million in 2026, potentially making him the highest-paid player in the league.

In recent years, it has become common for top players to sign short-term contracts leading into free agency, with Carlton’s Tom De Koning and Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters serving as recent examples.

On Sunday afternoon in Perth, Warner displayed his commitment to the Swans, clasping his Sydney jumper with pride as they secured a victory over Fremantle.