In this article, we will be taking a look at the world's top 25 richest soccer clubs based on revenue. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of the football market, you can go directly to see the World's Top 5 Richest Soccer Clubs Based on Revenue.
The Latest Football Market Trends and News
Professional football leagues are becoming increasingly popular in different parts of the world. Europe has some of the most competitive football leagues in the world, and over the years, European countries have produced some of the best soccer players in the world.
However, in one of our recent articles about the most valuable football clubs, we discussed that some of the most popular soccer stars, including Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Cristiano Ronaldo have moved away from Europe. Increasing investments in signing star players, broadcasting and marketing has helped leagues like the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer generate significant demand for football products and services in regions outside of Europe.
With billions of soccer fans around the world as well as the increasing quality of competitions, the football market is poised for growth. According to a report by Expert Market Research, the global football market was valued at around $3.31 billion in 2022. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4% during 2023-2028, pushing the market to reach a value of around $4.11 billion by the end of the forecasted period. Soccer clubs and organizations around the world are increasingly investing in improving fan engagement through interactive digital content, stadium innovations, and sponsorships, which is driving growth in the market. Additionally, the increased streaming of soccer leagues and soccer events on television and digital media is providing lucrative opportunities to both football organizations and broadcasters who buy broadcasting rights and generate revenue from advertising and subscription fees. Sports broadcasting deals are expected to further augment growth in the football market.
On September 20, Reuters reported that the CEO of Comcast Corporation's (NASDAQ:CMCSA) European pay-TV company Sky, Dana Strong, speaking at the Royal Television Society's Cambridge Convention 2023 said that she hoped the company’s partnership with the Premier League would continue for many years to come. The Premier League is English football's top-level competition and one of the most watched leagues in the world. According to the report, Strong also said that sport is part of Sky's heritage as well as the company’s future.
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) is a major telecommunications and media conglomerate which owns various regional sports networks (RSNs) with broadcasting rights for different sports leagues and sporting events around the world. Here are some comments from Comcast Corporation’s (NASDAQ:CMCSA) Q2 2023 earnings call:
“We're the number one most watched news organization in the U.S., and sports continues to be a huge driver, with the NFL, NASCAR, gold, Premier League, the World Cup on Telemundo, including the Women's World Cup going on right now, Big Ten starting this fall, and the Paris Olympics coming up next year. I am also confident that we have the right strategy for the future.”
On July 27, Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) reported strong earnings for the fiscal second quarter of 2023. The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.13, surpassing EPS estimates by $0.15. The company reported a revenue of $30.51 billion and outperformed revenue estimates by $368.57 million.
The demand for star player jerseys is another key factor driving growth in the football market. Soccer fans around the world prefer to buy jerseys of the soccer team they support and soccer products that their favorite players use. Major football accessories and apparel manufacturers like NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) and Adidas AG (ETR:ADS), which are also the top sponsors of some of the most popular football clubs, are expected to benefit as the market continues to grow during the forecast period.
Moreover, kit sponsorship deals provide soccer clubs with a significant source of revenue and businesses with a valuable opportunity to reach a global audience and increase brand awareness. On September 13, Reuters reported that the Premier League football club Manchester United PLC (NYSE:MANU) announced that they have reached an agreement with QUALCOMM, Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) that will see its Snapdragon brand become Manchester United PLC’s (NYSE:MANU) new front-of-shirt sponsor from next season. Manchester United PLC (NYSE:MANU) did not disclose the financial details of the agreement. However, The Athletic, which is a sports media and news company and a subsidiary of The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT), reported that it is a contract for a minimum of three years, with the Premier League soccer club aiming for an agreement worth 60 million pounds per year.
Now that we have discussed some of the recent trends as well as news in the football market, let’s look at the world’s top 25 richest soccer clubs based on revenue.
World's Top 25 Richest Soccer Clubs Based on Revenue
Methodology
In this article, we have listed the world's top 25 richest soccer clubs based on revenue. To collect data for our list we consulted Deloitte’s 26th edition of the Deloitte Football Money League, which is an annual profile of the highest revenue generating soccer clubs in the world. We used the latest data available in their dataset, which was published in 2023 and provides us with data on revenue generated by the football clubs in the 2021/22 season in world football. We then narrowed down our selection to rank the world’s top 25 richest soccer clubs based on revenue, which are listed below in ascending order.
World's Top 25 Richest Soccer Clubs Based on Revenue
25. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Revenue: EUR 195.4 Million
First up on our list of world’s top 25 richest soccer clubs based on revenue is Wolverhampton Wanderers with a revenue of EUR 195.4 million. Based in Wolverhampton, England, Wolverhampton Wanderers, also known as Wolves, is a professional football club competing in the Premier League.
Some of the key players in the global soccer industry include Manchester United PLC (NYSE:MANU), Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), NIKE Inc. (NYSE:NKE), and Adidas AG (ETR:ADS).
24. Benfica
Revenue: EUR 196.7 Million
Benfica is a professional soccer club based in Lisbon, Portugal. The club is the current champion of the Primeira Liga, which is the top level of the Portuguese football league system. Benfica generated revenue of EUR 196.7 million in the 2021/22 season.
23. Brighton & Hove Albion
Revenue: EUR 198.4 Million
Brighton & Hove Albion, also simply known as Brighton, is an English professional soccer club competing in the Premier League. The soccer club has been performing extremely well and taking the Premier League by storm so far this season. With a revenue of EUR 198.4 million in the 2021/22 season, Brighton & Hove Albion ranks at the number 23 spot in our list of world’s top 25 richest soccer clubs based on revenue.
22. Eintracht Frankfurt
Revenue: EUR 208.3 Million
Eintracht Frankfurt is a German professional football club based in Frankfurt. The football club competes in the Bundesliga, the top tier of the German football league system. Eintracht Frankfurt generated revenue of EUR 208.3 million in the 2021/22 season.
21. Aston Villa
Revenue: EUR 210.9 Million
Nicknamed the “Villans”, Aston Villa is a professional football club based in Birmingham, England. They compete in the Premier League, which is the top division of the English football system. With a revenue of EUR 210.9 million, Aston Villa ranks among some of the richest soccer clubs based on revenue.
20. Newcastle United
Revenue: EUR 212.3 Million
Newcastle United is an English professional football club competing in the Premier League. Nicknamed the “Magpies” after the black and white stripes of their home kit, the soccer club had a rather impressive campaign which earned them qualification for UEFA Champions League for the first time in 20 years. With a revenue of EUR 212.3 million in the 2021/22 season, Newcastle United ranks among the world’s top 20 richest soccer clubs based on revenue.
19. Everton
Revenue: EUR 213.7 Million
Competing in the Premier League, Everton is an English professional soccer club based in Liverpool, England. Nicknamed the “Toffees” after the local toffee shops, the soccer club is one of the most successful clubs in English football history with 9 league titles. Everton generated revenue of EUR 213.7 million in the 2021/22 season.
18. Leeds United
Revenue: EUR 223.4 Million
Leeds United is a professional soccer club and historically one of the biggest clubs in England. However, the soccer club has been struggling lately and currently competes in the Championship, which is the second tier of the English football league system. Leeds United generated revenue of EUR 223.4 million in the 2021/22 season.
17. Leicester City
Revenue: EUR 252.2 Million
Leicester City is another football club that now competes in the second tier of the English football league system, the Championship. Nicknamed “the Foxes”, the football club is known for winning the Premier League in 2015-16, which is considered to be a fairytale campaign by many football fans around the world. With a revenue of EUR 252.2 million, Leicester City ranks among some of the world’s richest soccer clubs based on revenue.
16. AC Milan
Revenue: EUR 264.9 Million
AC Milan is an Italian professional soccer club competing in Serie A, the top division of Italian football. With 19 Serie A titles, 5 Coppa Italia titles, and 7 European Cups / UEFA Champions League titles to its name, the Italian soccer club has a magnificent history. AC Milan generated revenue of EUR 264.9 million in the 2021/22 season.
15. West Ham United
Revenue: EUR 301.2 Million
West Ham United is a professional soccer club that competes in England’s Premier League. Nicknamed the “Hammers”, the English soccer club generated revenue of EUR 301.2 million in the 2021/22 season and ranks among the world’s top 15 richest soccer clubs based on revenue.
14. Inter Milan
Revenue: EUR 308.4 Million
Inter Milan is another successful Italian soccer club competing in Serie A that made it to our list of world’s top 25 richest soccer clubs based on revenue. As a successful Italian soccer team, the club has won 3 European Cups / UEFA Champions League titles, 19 league titles, 9 Coppa Italia and 7 Supercoppa Italiana. Inter Milan reached the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League final but could not win the trophy for the fourth time. Inter Milan generated revenue of EUR 308.4 million in the 2021/22 season.
13. Borussia Dortmund (ETR:BVB)
Revenue: EUR 356.9 Million
Borussia Dortmund (ETR:BVB) is a German football club competing in the Bundesliga, the top division of German football. Known for their passionate supporters, Borussia Dortmund (ETR:BVB) have won 8 Bundesliga titles, 5 DFB-Pokal titles, and 1 UEFA Champions League title. The club is seen as a fertile breeding ground for young talent in world football. Borussia Dortmund (ETR:BVB) generated revenue of EUR 356.9 million in the 2021/22 season and ranks among some of the world’s top richest soccer clubs based on revenue.
12. Atletico de Madrid
Revenue: EUR 393.9 Million
Atletico de Madrid is a professional Spanish soccer club competing in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football. The club has won 11 La Liga titles, more than any other club after the Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. While Atletico de Madrid has 3 UEFA Europa League titles and 10 Copa del Rey titles to their name, it is also the only football team to reach the UEFA Champions League final 3 times without having won the title. Atletico de Madrid generated revenue of EUR 393.9 million in the 2021/22 season.
11. Juventus FC (BIT:JUVE)
Revenue: EUR 400.6 Million
Juventus FC (BIT:JUVE) is an Italian soccer club competing in Serie A, the top division of Italian football. As one of the most successful soccer clubs in the world, Juventus FC (BIT:JUVE) has won the Coppa Italia 14 times, the UEFA Champions League 2 times, and the Serie A title for a record 36 times. Juventus FC (BIT:JUVE) generated revenue of EUR 400.6 million in the 2021/22 season.
10. Arsenal
Revenue: EUR 433.5 Million
Arsenal is a professional English football club competing in the Premier League. Nicknamed the “Gunners”, the football club is known for their huge fan base. Arsenal have won the FA Cup for a record 14 times and the Premier League 13 times, including the 2003/04 season where they remained unbeaten to earn the title of “The Invincibles”. With a revenue of EUR 433.5 million, Arsenal ranks among the world’s top 10 richest soccer clubs based on revenue.
9. Tottenham Hotspur
Revenue: EUR 523 Million
Tottenham Hotspur, also known as “Spurs”, is a professional soccer club competing in the Premier League, the top division of English football. Tottenham Hotspur have a long-standing rivalry with Arsenal, and the meeting of the two English teams is famously known as the North London Derby. Tottenham Hotspur generated revenue of EUR 523 million in the 2021/22 season to rank higher than Arsenal in our list of world’s top 25 richest soccer clubs based on revenue.
8. Chelsea
Revenue: EUR 568.3 Million
Nicknamed the “Blues”, Chelsea is an English professional football club competing in the Premier League. As a successful football club, the Blues have won the Premier League 6 times, the FA Cup 8 times, and the UEFA Champions League twice. Chelsea generated revenue of EUR 568.3 million in the 2021/22 season.
7. FC Barcelona
Revenue: EUR 638.2 Million
FC Barcelona competes in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football. Nicknamed the “Blaugrana”, the football club has won La Liga 27 times, the Copa del Rey 31 times, and the UEFA Champions League 5 times. They are known for their admirable playing style and are one of the most successful clubs in Europe. FC Barcelona generated revenue of EUR 638.2 million in the 2021/22 season.
6. Bayern Munich
Revenue: EUR 653.6 Million
Bayern Munich is without a doubt the most successful German soccer club. Nicknamed the “Bavarians”, Bayern Munich also ranks among the most successful clubs in European football history with 6 UEFA Champions League titles. With a revenue of EUR 653.6 million, the Bavarians rank among some of the world’s top richest soccer clubs based on revenue.
Some of the stocks that are expected to benefit from the growing football market include Manchester United PLC (NYSE:MANU), Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), NIKE Inc. (NYSE:NKE), and Adidas AG (ETR:ADS).
