According to Deloitte analysis, more than half of the world’s richest clubs by revenue belong to the Premier League.
Eleven Premier League clubs are in the top 20 according to the Money League study for the 2021-22 season.
This is the first time in 26 years of research that more than half of the clubs belong to the same league.
Champions Manchester City retained top spot, earning €731m (£619.1m), ahead of Real Madrid (€713.8m).
Liverpool rose to third place from seventh, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal also in the top 10, while West Ham, Leicester, Leeds, ” Everton” and “Newcastle” entered the top 20.
The top 20 clubs earned €9.2bn (£7.82bn), a 13% increase on 2020-21.
This increase is largely due to the return of fans to the stadiums in the first full season after the restrictions due to COVID-19, with match revenue increasing from €111 million to €1.4 billion.
Five of the Premier League’s “big six” – Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – reported revenue growth of 15% or more. The total increase was 226 million euros.
Commercial revenues rose 8%, from €3.5bn to €3.8bn (£2.975bn to £3.23bn), but broadcast revenue fell 11% (€485m/£412.25m pounds sterling). Last season, figures were higher than usual due to the postponement of the 2019-20 season.
| Position (last year’s position) | Club | Revenue 2021-22 (£m) | Revenue 2020-21 (£m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) | Manchester City | 619.1 (731 million euros) | 571.1 (644.9 million euros) |
| 2 (2) | Real Madrid | 604.5 (713.8 million euros) | 567.3 (640.7 million euros) |
| 3 (7) | Liverpool | 594.3 (701.7 million euros) | 487.4 (550.4 million euros) |
| 4 (5) | Manchester United | 583.2 (688.6 million euros) | 494.1 (€558 million) |
| 5 (6) | Paris Saint-Germain | 554 (€654.2 million) | 492.5 (556.2 million euros) |
| 6 (3) | Bayern Munich | 553.5 (653.6 million euros) | 541.4 (611.4 million euros) |
| 7 (4) | Barcelona | 540.5 (638.2 million euros) | 515.4 (582.1 million euros) |
| 8 (8) | Chelsea | 481.3 (568.3 million euros) | 436.6 (493.1 million euros) |
| 9 (10) | Tottenham Hotspur | 442.8 (523 million euros) | 359.7 (406.2 million euros) |
| 10 (11) | Arsenal | 367.1 (433.5 million euros) | 324.5 (366.5 million euros) |
| 11 (9) | Juventus | 339.3 (400.6 million euros) | 383.5 (433.1 million euros) |
| 12 (13) | Atletico Madrid | 333.6 (393.9 million euros) | 294.7 (332.8 million euros) |
| 13 (12) | Borussia Dortmund | 302.2 (356.9 million euros) | 298.9 (337.6 million euros) |
| 14 (14) | Inter Milan | 261.2 (308.4 million euros) | 293 (330.9 million euros) |
| 15 (16) | West Ham United | 255.1 (301.2 million euros) | 196.1 (221.5 million euros) |
| 16 (19) | Milan | 224.4 (264.9 million euros) | 191.5 (216.3 million euros) |
| 17 (15) | Leicester City | 213.6 (252.2 million euros) | 226.2 (255.5 million euros) |
| 18 (none) | Leeds United | 189.2 (223.4 million euros) | 168.6 (190.4 million euros) |
| 19 (18) | Everton | 181 (213.7 million euros) | 193.1 (218.1 million euros) |
| 20 (none) | Newcastle United | 179.8 (212.3 million euros) | 150.6 (170.1 million euros) |
“The Premier League can be practically untouchable” – analysis
Tim Bridge, Principal Partner, Deloitte Sports Business Group
The question now is whether the other leagues can close the gap [від Прем’єр-ліги]likely by increasing the value of future international media rights, will the Premier League be virtually untouchable in terms of revenue.
The Premier League was the only one of the five European leagues to experience an increase in the value of media rights during the latest rights sale process. It continues to attract millions of followers worldwide and its member clubs have a greater revenue advantage over their international rivals.
The interest of commercial partners, fans and investors in the Premier League has become higher than ever before. While this is encouraging for further growth, continued calls for a greater distribution of the financial wealth of English clubs across the football system and the impact of the cost of living crisis make it all the more important for stakeholders in the game to keep a sharp focus on their responsibilities as stewards of leading clubs.
“Not if, but when all 20 Premier League clubs will be in the top 30”
Manchester City entered the top five for the first time in 2015-16, before topping the table last season.
Their impressive form on the pitch saw them win back-to-back titles under Pep Guardiola and they posted a record Premier League commercial revenue of €373m (£317.05m) – an increase of €65m (£55.25m sterling) compared to 2021. 22.
Liverpool are the biggest movers, climbing from seventh to third, reaching their highest ever position and overtaking Manchester United in the rankings for the first time.
Thanks to reaching the final of the Champions League, where are they lost to “Real” with a score of 1:0 they received additional income from broadcasts.
They also earned more than €100m (£85m) in matchday revenue for the first time and were one of only five clubs to do so.
Arsenal became the first team to enter the top 10 since the 2018-19 season, largely thanks to an increase in matchday revenue, while Leeds entered the top 10 for the first time since 2002-03 and Newcastle returned . Both clubs reported a higher number of matches and commercial income than many other English clubs.
If the Money League were expanded to the top 30, it would include 16 Premier League clubs, with five clubs from La Liga, three each from Serie A and the Bundesliga and one from Ligue 1. All teams from other European lay down in UEFA club competitions in the 2021-22 season.
Sam Bour, director of Deloitte’s sports business group, added: “The Premier League’s financial dominance is unlikely to be challenged in the coming seasons.
“This is particularly evident at a time when these clubs continue to attract international investment, which often, in the best examples, encourages a focus on profitability as well as success on the pitch.
“It is now likely not a matter of if but when all 20 Premier League clubs will appear in the top 30 of the Money League.”
