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.
via Sky/Deloitte
