Football is evolving and commercialization is taking a new twist. What started as small community clubs are now multibillion enterprises earning hundreds of millions of Euros.
From prize money by participating in the National leagues, domestic and continental tournaments to selling merchandise, commercial adverts, net transfer spending, kit sponsors, TV revenue, ticket sales etc, football clubs earn money to keep business afloat, make football global and entertaining for everyone.
The 2026 report released on January 22, 2026 by the Deloitte Football Money League sums all the revenues released by clubs all over the world in the 2024/2025 season categorizing revenue in three broad groupings. For the first time since Deloitte started publishing the annual Football Money League, top 20 teams have managed to amass a record €12.4 billion.
Real Madrid extends its record earning 1.161 billion an amount no club has ever earned in football history.
For the first time since 2019/2020 season, Barcelona is back as the second highest in revenue despite playing the 2024/2025 league away from home on a less capacity stadium as Nou Camp undergoes renovation.
The list is dominated by English clubs with all ‘Big Six clubs’ appearing in the ranks.
Richest Football Clubs in the World by Revenue.
10. Chelsea Football Club: €584.1 million.
Chelsea Football Club located in East London England was the 10th club on the money podium. Having finished the season 4th in the premier league, winning UEFA Conference League.
The revenue of the club increased by €38.6m that is 7% from the 2023/2024 revenue. €103m was earned from match day while broadcasting brought €245m with commercials and merchandise bringing €239m.
9. Tottenham Hotspur F.C. €672.6 million.
Located in North London England, Tottenham finished the season as UEFA Europa League champions with a disappointing domestic league position, 17th.
The club revenue saw an increase in revenue by 9% translating to more €47.6% compared to the previous season. Match day revenue was €150m, broadcasting cashed in €192m and commercials and merchandise €330m.
8. Manchester United F.C.: €793.1 million.
Located in Manchester, England, Manchester United finished last season as Europa League finalists and 15th position in the League, their lowest ever in the Premier League era.
Revenue increased by €22m that is 3% from last season’s revenue. Match day revenue stood at €191m, broadcasting at €206m while commercials at $397m.
7. Arsenal Football Club: €821.7 million.
Located in North London, Arsenal F.C finished 2nd in the Premier League and was knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals.
Strong performance both in the League and Europe boosted their revenue by 105.2 million that is a whooping 17% of the previous season’s revenue. Match day revenues increased to €182m up from €153m in the previous season, broadcasting increased to €325m up from €305m while commercials and merchandise increased to €314 up from €258m.
6. Manchester City F.C.: €829.3 million.
Manchester City located in the city of Manchester, England was the only club on the top 10 richest clubs by revenue to report a drop. The club finished third in the league for the first time since 2016/2017 season and was eliminated in the playoff phase of Champions League.
Revenue fell by €8.5m which is 1% drop compared to previous season despite this drop, the wage bill remained stable. Revenue from match day increased by €1m from €88m to €89m but remains the lowest in England. Broadcasting revenue dropped by €11m from €343m to €332m while commercial and merchandise increased by €1m to €408m.
5. Liverpool F.C.: €835.1 million
Located in Liverpool, England, Liverpool FC were champions of the English Premier League. The team also reached finals of League Cup but despite leading the Champions League table, they were knocked out in the round of 16.
The club recorded an increase of €121.4m which is 17% increase from the previous season. The club match day revenue increased from €132m to €150m while broadcasting revenue rose sharply from €240m to €321m. Commercials and merchandise revenue increased from €343m in 2023/2024 season to €366m in 2024/2025 season.
4. Paris Saint Germain – PSG F.C.: €838 million.
Located in Paris, France, PSG finished as Champions France Cup, French League 1 and European Champions for the first time.
The club revenue increased by €31.1m which is 4% increase. Match day revenue totaled to €177m while broadcasting earned the French giant €293m and commercials earned €367m.
3. Bayern Munich F.C.: €860.6 million.
Located in Munich, Germany, Bayern Munich finished the league as Bundesliga Champions after missing out on the 2023/2024 season. The club finished as quarter finalists of Champions League.
Bayern Munich revenue increased by €95.2m which is 12%. Match day revenues increased from €131m to €147m while broadcasting increased by €39m from €213 to €252m. Revenue from commercials increased from €421m to €461m.
2. F.C. Barcelona: €974.8 million.
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, F.C. Barcelona finished the 2024/2025 as winners of Spanish Super Cup, Spanish Cup and the domestic league. The team was eliminated in the semi finals of the Champions League.
The team has the biggest increase in revenue both by volume and percentage of any team in 2024/2025 season. With 27% increment which is €209.6m, Barcelona is back in the top two positions for the first time after 5 seasons. The surge was facilitated by the introduction of Personal Seat Licence arrangements which singlehandedly added €70m in revenue.
Revenue from match day increased by over €100m from €103m in the previous season to €210m while broadcasting revenue grew from €236m to €243m. Commercials and merchandise revenue increased from €426m to €522m. Indeed Barcelona were only €25.2m shy to become the second football club to earn €1 billion revenue in a single season.
1. Real Madrid C.F.: €1,161 million.
Located in Madrid Spain, Real Madrid is the richest football club in the world by revenue with a record 1.16M!
From selling merchandise and commercials Madrid earned €594M enough to place them among top 10 earners. The club match day revenue dropped from €248m in the previous season to €233m this season due to sale of Personal seat license nevertheless, their earnings from match day are the second highest ever a club has ever earned. Revenue from commercials broadcasting increased from €316m to €355m.
With the 2025/2026 season still ongoing, eyes keep open on who will be the big earners and whether the trajectory will keep positive or whether there will be a fall. Barcelona are back at Nou Camp, Chelsea won club World Cup and is back in the Champions League, 9 of the 10 clubs are still in Champions League at the round of 16, prospects for the coming season are indeed high!
I wonder why the world club champions come to the 10th position. Really why is it like that?
Revenue earned from FIFA Club World Cup will be included in the 2025/2026 season and the report will be released in early 2027. Keep on Top Lists Portal for a 2027 Update next year.