UEFA has published its report on the “financial and investment environment in European club football” for the 2023 financial year. There was once again record growth in revenue.
According to the report, the revenues of European first division clubs reached a record level of 26.8 billion euros in the 2023 financial year, with additional revenues of 2.9 billion representing the largest increase ever recorded. Despite the pandemic, which also drove many Bundesliga clubs into financial difficulties, revenues in European club football rose by over a billion euros every year between 2014 and 2024, from 16.5 billion to 29 billion.
The football hype is reflected in other figures. For example, over the last 15 years, revenue from national TV rights has increased by 131 percent, revenue from UEFA competitions by 322 percent, sponsorship and commercial revenue by 166 percent, and ticket revenue by 74 percent. In addition, transfer income, which is not included in the income, has increased by 179 percent.
In the medium term, however, the picture is different, as the report emphasizes. Most of the recent revenue growth over the last five years has been driven by a 39 percent increase in sponsorship and commercial revenue, along with a 32 percent increase in ticket revenue. By contrast, revenue from national TV rights has only increased by 3%. Revenue continues to be concentrated in the top leagues and clubs.
UEFA wants to distribute more money
At the league level, TV rights revenue remains the biggest differentiating factor, whereas UEFA distributions (prize money and solidarity payments) remain the most equally distributed revenue across leagues. As UEFA announced, the distributions are set to increase significantly in the financial years 2024 and 2025. At club level, sponsorship and commercial revenue is the biggest differentiating factor, with the ranking led by the largest clubs with ‘global’ profiles.
The top 20 clubs reported revenue of €11.3 billion in 2024, a healthy increase of 12 percent compared to 2023. In the 2023-24 financial year, FC Bayern broke the magic billion-euro barrier for the first time, with revenue of €1.017 billion. Real Madrid is at the top of the league with €1.073 billion.
The Premier League was also unbeatable in the 2023 financial year. It posted revenue of €7.1 billion, with the British elite league leading the way in most categories. Spain’s La Liga retains second place with total revenue of €3.6 billion.
Ceferin: “Clubs must continue to exercise caution”
Despite the figures, Aleksander Ceferin urges caution. “While most clubs are apparently handling the increase in player salaries responsibly, other costs are rising rapidly and are weighing more than ever on operating margins,” the UEFA president explained. ”Clubs need to continue to act with care, as a lot of work is still needed to get profitability back to pre-pandemic levels.”
The European body also predicted that total revenue would reach a record level in 2024. Based on the early data submitted, revenue for the top division clubs is expected to increase to over €29 billion in the 2024 financial year.
