Real Madrid Retain Top Spot In Football’s Rich List
Real Madrid stayed top of football’s rich list as Liverpool outstripped their English rivals for the first time, according to Deloitte’s Money League study on Thursday.
Spanish giants Madrid generated nearly €1.2 billion ($1.4 billion) in revenue in the 2024/25 season despite failing to win a major trophy.
The refurbishment of the club’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium into a multi-purpose venue continues to pay rich dividends – Madrid’s €594 million of commercial revenues alone would be enough for a place in the top 10.
Barcelona climbed back into second place in Deloitte’s table (€975 million) despite delays forcing them to play the whole season away from the Camp Nou, which is still being redeveloped.
Bayern Munch were third on the list (€861 million), marginally ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, whose income was boosted by winning the Champions League for the first time.
The rest of the top 10 is dominated by Premier League clubs, with Liverpool leading the English contingent for the first time.
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An expansion of Anfield plus a return to the Champions League and winning the Premier League title boosted the Reds’ revenue to €836 million.
Manchester City and Manchester United both slipped down the list.
Pep Guardiola’s City fell from second to sixth after an early exit from the Champions League and a third-placed Premier League finish following four consecutive titles.
United dropped behind Arsenal to eighth after missing out on the Champions League and finishing 15th in the Premier League.
Together, the 20 top-earning clubs in Europe reported an 11 per cent increase in revenues to €12.4 billion.
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The first 32-team Club World Cup had an impact, helping lift Bayern into the top three for the first time since 2020/21, while Benfica, in 19th spot on the 20-team list, are the first entrant outside the traditional “big five” leagues of England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France in four years.
Arsenal were the highest-earning women’s team for the first time after winning the Champions League.
The Gunners, with revenues of €25.6 million, edged out London rivals Chelsea and Barcelona.
There are six English clubs in the top 10, with Arsenal (822m euros, £690m) in seventh, Tottenham (673m euros, £565m) in ninth and Chelsea 10th with 584m euros (£491m).
Three other English sides made the top 20, with Aston Villa (450m euros, £378m) 14th, Newcastle United (400m euros, £335m) 17th and West Ham United (276m euros, £232m) in 20th.
