Every year, football clubs’ fortunes are tallied up, revealing which ones rake in the most cash. This list shows the top sixteen for 2023. From Real Madrid to Manchester city and Bayern Munich, let’s look at the rich clubs and their earnings
Real Madrid (Spain)
On top of the list is Real Madrid. Among the European clubs, Real Madrid happened to set the record-breaking revenue for 2023. Their revenue was a whopping $902 million. The club has a global fanbase and historic success in tournaments. They generate high revenue through sponsorships and ticket sales. Their iconic Santiago Bernabéu stadium also adds to the value.
Manchester City (England)
Manchester City’s 2022-23 annual report suggested revenue of $890.2 million, the highest record in the Premier League. The club’s Champions League victory contributed to this huge income. A part of their wealth also comes from ownership by Sheikh Mansour, the UAE’s VP and a member of the Abu Dhabi Royal family.
Bayern Munich (Germany)
Bayern Munich is renowned for their dominance in German football. It is also reflected in their strong financial structure. In 2022/23, Bayern Munich generated a total of around $809.9 million (744 million euros) in revenue. The majority of their revenue comes from commercial sales. Plus, they excel at player development and have a loyal fanbase.
FC Barcelona (Spain)
FC Barcelona is known around the world mostly through its soccer teams. For the season 2022-23, their annual revenue was around $1.3 billion. This was one of the highest revenues. However, they did have a debt of $1.2 billion, too. For the 2023-24 season, the club expects an income of at least $911.1 million.
Manchester United (England)
Manchester United has the most English football titles so far. In the 2022-23 season, the club generated a revenue of $784 million (648.4 million pounds). Their rich history and massive global fanbase make them a commercial powerhouse. The club made around $188.52 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Liverpool (England)
Liverpool’s passionate fanbase and recent championship wins fuel their financial power. This is why, in the 2022-23 season, their revenue was around $756.25 million (594 million pounds). They excel at commercial deals and have a strong presence in international markets. Their biggest income stream in the last season was off-field income.
Paris Saint-Germain (France)
It is difficult not to be one of the wealthiest clubs with players like Messi, Mbappe, and Neymar. PSG’s revenue in 2023 was calculated at around $739 million. PSG also has the record of having the highest player wage bill ever. PSG is backed by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI). Their wealth also comes from sponsorships and a growing international fanbase.
Tottenham Hotspur (England)
Tottenham’s new stadium and smart financial management have boosted their revenue. The club generated around $704.31 million (631 million euros) in revenue in the 2022/23 season. The largest share of this came from their commercial sales. However, their passionate fanbase and location in London also play a big role in their income.
Chelsea (England)
Chelsea is a recent addition to the elite. Backed by renowned investors, like Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, they’ve seen success on the field and commercially in recent years. Chelsea FC’s revenue for the 2022–2023 was around $650.87 million (512.5 million pounds). This is a record high and an increase of 6.5% from the previous year. A big part of this increase was due to the matchday and commercial revenues.
Arsenal (England)
Arsenal is another historic London club. Their large fan base and commercial deals generate substantial revenue. Arsenal’s football revenue for the 2022-23 season was around $591.57 million (464.6 million pounds). Looking at the club’s legacy, the numbers should be higher. However, it was normal since they hadn’t played any big matches in the past few years.
Juventus (Italy)
Juventus is a dominant force in Italian football. Their rich history, loyal fanbase, and global appeal contribute to their wealth. In the 2022-23 season, their revenue was around $470.31 million (432 million euros). Almost half of it came from commercial sales, showing the popularity of the team.
Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Dortmund is one of the most successful clubs in German football history. In the 2022-23 season, their revenue was around $455.33 million (418.23 million euro). It was an 18.94% increase from last year’s income. The club is considered a breeding ground for young talent. Their passionate fanbase, innovative marketing, and success in developing players fuel their finances.
AC Milan (Italy)
AC Milan is a seven-time Champions League winner and 18-time Serie A champion. Naturally, they are a global brand with a massive and passionate fanbase. In the 2022-23 season, their revenue was around $429 million (404.5 million euros). Their income had a 36% increase from the previous year. Sponsorships from global brands played a big role in it.
FC Internazionale Milano (Italy)
This club boasts three Champions League titles and 19 Serie A wins. They are also infamous for the fierce rivalry with AC Milan for decades. Last year, their revenue was around $412.5 million (379 million euros). Like AC Milan, Inter Milan also earns significantly through sponsorships and merchandise sales.
Atletico De Madrid (Spain)
Atletico Madrid is famous for their strong defense and passionate fans. Last season, they made around $396.14 million (364 million euros). This includes money from selling tickets at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium. They also made money by selling players like Antoine Griezmann, Rodri, and Gelson Martins. Their success in European competitions also helped them earn more prize money.
Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
Eintracht Frankfurt is a unique case. Although they don’t have a big global fanbase, they still earned significant money last season. Their revenue was around $337.59 million (310.2 million euros), for the financial year 2022-23. They generate significant revenue from ticket and merchandise sales for their loyal fanbase. Plus, the prize money from European competitions also counts.