Real Madrid replace Manchester United as world’s wealthiest football club
5742 Mins Read
Real Madrid have replaced Manchester United as the world’s wealthiest club, according to the latest Deloitte Football Money League.
Generating record revenue of €750.9m, Real Madrid return to first place in the Money League for the first time since 2015/16, posting the second-highest lead over second place (FC Barcelona) in Money League history (€60.5m). Overall, the 20 highest earning football clubs in the world generated a record €8.3bn (£7.4bn) of combined revenue in 2017/18, an increase of 6% on the previous year.
Manchester United slipped into third spot after generating £590m – representing a comparatively low two per cent year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, neighbours Manchester City retained their fifth-place ranking with revenues of £504m – an 11 per cent rise from 2016/17 figures.
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich ranked fourth for a second year running with £557m, while Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain climbed one place into sixth spot on £480m.
Premier League leaders Liverpool recorded the biggest income increase from clubs in the top 10, with profits soaring 25 per cent to £455m, while Chelsea also achieved an impressive 22 per cent growth with £448m.
Published just eight months after the end of the 2017/18 season, the Money League is the most contemporary and reliable independent analysis of the clubs’ relative financial performance.
The key findings of this edition are:
Real Madrid become the first club to generate more than €750m and regain their place as the highest revenue generating club in world football, making it a record twelfth time at the top;
The top 20 highest earning football clubs for the 2017/18 season, with combined revenues growing 6% to €8.3bn, a new record;
FC Barcelona climb one place to second, making it a Spanish one-two at the top of the Money League, whilst Manchester United slip to third;
Tottenham Hotspur make it into the top 10 for only the second time, having last appeared in 2006/07. A record six English clubs feature in the top 10.
