The beautiful game of football has developed over time, and the profession is now extremely lucrative for athletes, club owners, and administrators. While increasing fan viewing via TV and internet streaming platforms has resulted in significant income for football teams, fans must now pay extra (premium value) to actively support and root for their preferred clubs.
The world’s largest clubs have a multitude of fans from all over the world, as well as numerous streams of money such as kit sponsorship, merchandise, TV rights, and matchday ticket sales, so it’s no surprise that these teams are now ‘franchises,’ raking in hundreds of millions of pounds each year.
Forbes estimates that the average worth of the world’s richest football teams will reach $2.3 billion in 2024, contributing to a total combined value of more than $45.7 billion. This reflects a rise of 5.1% over the previous year.
According to Forbes’ rankings, this article will look at the world’s ten richest football clubs.
1. Real Madrid – $6.6 billion
Real Madrid, valued at $6.6 billion, tops the list of the richest football teams. Real Madrid has led the list for the third year in a row, and the eighth time in the last eleven years. The club produced the most revenue among the top 30 clubs, $873 million, thanks to their great on-field performance.
Real was number one every year from 2004-05 to 2014-15, but they have only led the ranking twice since, with Manchester United, Barcelona, and Manchester City taking turns at the top.
Real Madrid’s commercial earnings has increased thanks to a partnership worth tens of millions of euros each year with HP.
Their income in 2022-23 was 8% more than the previous season, allowing them to remain at the top of the Forbes Rich List for the third year in a row.
Since 2014, Real Madrid has won 15 international titles, including six Champions League trophies, four European Super Cups, and four Club World Cups.
The club is owned by its members, and it generated $76 million in operating income last year.
Despite its immense value, Real Madrid cannot be invested in because it is owned by over 90,000 members.
2. Manchester United – $6.55 billion
Manchester United, valued at $6.55 billion, is second on this year’s list of the most valuable football teams. Sir Jim Ratcliffe paid $33 a share for his 27.7% ownership in the club in February, valuing it at $6.5 billion. However, the team’s equity is currently valued at only $17 a share.
The Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are the major owners, and the club’s operating income was $187 million. Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’ investment in Manchester United has sparked new hope at Old Trafford.
According to Chris Marangi, a portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, Manchester United’s stock appears to be undervalued due to fan displeasure with the Glazer family’s ownership and the club’s lackluster record in the English Premier League. A control sale of the team, similar to the one attempted by Sheikh Jassim last year, is anticipated to garner substantially more than $33 per share.
3. Barcelona – $5.6 billion
The Spanish giants are valued at $5.6 billion, and the club’s valuation has increased by 2% in the last year despite a $145 million operational loss.
The team has faced well-documented financial difficulties in recent seasons, which contributed to Lionel Messi’s unpleasant exit. With the ongoing reconstruction of Camp Nou, Europe’s largest football stadium, Barcelona will have a major asset at their disposal.
4. Liverpool – $5.37 billion
Extensions with AXA and Carlsberg have increased the club’s revenues. Liverpool’s worth increased by 2%, to $5.37 billion.
New sponsorship partnerships with UPS, Google, and Peloton have generated hundreds of millions of dollars for the club.
John Henry and Tom Werner owned the club, which had an operating income of $102 million.
5. Manchester City – $5.1 billion
Winning the treble in 2022-23 was a stunning achievement that resulted in Manchester City’s highest revenue ever. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan owns the club, which is presently worth $5.1 billion.
The Cityzens had a 2% gain in value and generated $148 million in operational profits.
6. Bayern Munich – $5 billion
The club, which is owned by its members, had an operating income of $84 million. The Bundesliga giants, worth $5 billion, enjoyed a 3% increase in value.
Bayern Munich recorded the highest commercial earnings in world football during the 2022-23 season. Their long-standing collaboration with T-Mobile was expanded to around £40 million per year.
7. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) – $4.4 billion
Les Parisiens suffered their third consecutive loss. Despite a $126 million financial loss, the club remains extremely valuable under Qatar Sports Investments ownership.
PSG’s worth climbed by 4%, to $4.4 billion.
On the other side, the squad has seen a turnover of key players, with Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe all departing in the last 18 months.
8. Spurs – $3.2 billion
Tottenham had a 14% gain in value and is now worth $3.2 billion.
The Joseph Lewis Family Trust and Daniel Levy owned the club, which had a $161 million operating income.
The North London club has reaped significant benefits from its new stadium, with matchday revenue accounting for over 20% of total revenue.
9. Chelsea – $3.1 billion
Chelsea’s valuation increased by 1%, and the club, owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, is now worth $3.1 billion. The club also recorded a negative operating income of $400,000.
Their finances have been rigorously monitored since Boehly took over in May 2022, and they will face even more scrutiny at Stamford Bridge in the coming months.
Kit sponsorship agreements have been a contentious topic during the Boehly period, with Infinite Athlete making their debut on the front of the shirts in 2023-24.
10. Arsenal – $2.6 billion
The Gunners had a 15% increase in value during the prior year, with an operating income of $140 million.
The club owned by Stanley Kroenke had an operational income of $140 million and is now valued at $2.6 billion.
Arsenal has made significant strides on the pitch in recent years, with Mikel Arteta’s young group maturing and improving and continuing to compete for the Premier League crown.