According to the most recent annual Football Money League study, more than half of the world’s 20 richest clubs are Premier League clubs for the first time in history.
Manchester City remains at the top of the list, provided by Deloitte, with revenues of £619 million for the 2021-22 season. Barely ahead of Real Madrid (£604 million) in second.
Liverpool (£594m) climbs four places to third and surpasses Manchester United for the first time in the report’s 27-year history, becoming the most remarkable riser.
Liverpool’s revenue soared by £106.9m last season, primarily due to higher broadcast income from reaching the Champions League final and being one of only a handful of clubs to declare matchday receipts of more than £95m as fans returned following the epidemic.
Elsewhere Barcelona Femen topped the inaugural women’s football money league list compiled by Deloitte. With £6.7m in revenue, followed by Manchester United (£5.3m) and Manchester City (£4.5m).
The most eye-catching news, though, is the Premier League’s overall financial strength. Since 11 of its clubs are currently ranked among the top 20. It is the first time that a single nation has more than fifty percent of the teams in the money league.
Zal Udwadia, associate director of Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, told, “That domination is unprecedented.” “It is mostly due to the Premier League’s investment, its global appeal, and the expansion of its television rights.” Other leagues have investigated methods for bridging this gap, such as private equity investment, but it continues to increase.
World’s 20 richest clubs
“When the rankings are expanded to include the top 30, there are 16 Premier League clubs. It is only a matter of time before all 20 English Premier League teams appear in the top 30.”
In eighth, ninth, and tenth place, respectively, are Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal. West Ham, Leicester, Leeds, Everton, and Newcastle are also in the top 20.
Outside of the Premier League, Barcelona and Real Madrid have failed to recover to their pre-pandemic revenue levels. With revenues down €203m (£177m) and €43m (£38m) for the Spanish teams in 2018-19.
Tim Bridge, the leading partner of Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, stated that the statistics raise issues. As to whether or not the Premier League will ever be caught.
“The Premier League continues to attract millions of fans throughout the world. And its member clubs have a stronger income edge over their overseas competitors,” he stated.
“The question now is whether other leagues can overcome the financial gap, most likely by increasing the value of future international TV rights, or whether the Premier League will remain essentially untouchable in terms of revenue.
“The Premier League appears to be attracting more commercial partners, fans, and investors than ever before,” he continued. “While this suggests optimism for further growth, ongoing calls for a greater distribution of the financial wealth of English clubs across the football system and the impact of a cost-of-living crisis make it all the more crucial for the game’s stakeholders to maintain a clear focus on their responsibility as stewards of leading clubs.”
Half of the world’s 20 richest clubs are Premier League teams
The Deloitte report was released just hours after Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli warned that the Premier League’s dominance was detrimental to the rest of Europe. “I felt and continue to feel that European soccer requires fundamental reforms to face the future”. Said Agnelli, one of the architects of a failed 2021 bid to establish a breakaway European Super League with other major clubs.
“Otherwise, football is destined for the irreversible collapse in favor of a dominant league, the Premier League. Which, within a few years, will grab all the European talent and marginalize the rest.”
According to Deloitte, the overall revenue for the world’s top 20 men’s clubs in 2021/22 was £8 billion, a 13% increase compared to 2021. This gain was driven by the return of fans after two Covid-affected seasons. And the growth in commercial revenue from English clubs.
The average revenue for the top women’s clubs on the money list was £1.8 million. However, Bridge was generally hopeful about the future of women’s tennis.
“The professional women’s game is just beginning its journey,” he remarked. “However, significant international tournaments over the past four years have attracted record-breaking crowds to women’s football. Prompting clubs and leagues around the world to focus more intently on advancing the women’s game.
World’s 20 richest clubs
“Revenues earned by elite clubs at this early stage suggest the substantial value that women’s teams will bring to clubs in future seasons as their popularity and success continue to grow,” he added.
According to a study conducted by Deloitte, clubs were attempting to differentiate the commercial value of their men’s and women’s teams. But more needed to be done to generate revenue.
Zoe Burton, director of Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, stated, “The future growth of the women’s game will depend on resilient strategies that include details on the value clubs and leagues are looking to drive from brand partnerships, both individually and collectively, and the structure of commercial rights.”
“Attracting new funds to the women’s game will generate investment to fund club infrastructure, player pay, grassroots initiatives, and more, which will sustain the women’s game’s growth for years to come.”
