Real Madrid first club to generate €1 billion revenue in a season, Deloitte says

MADRID – Real Madrid became the first football team to register €1 billion (S$1.41 billion) in revenue in a single season in 2023-24, with the Spanish side topping the Deloitte Football Money League as the world’s highest revenue-generating club once again.

Real had overtaken Manchester City to return to the summit after they generated total revenue of €831 million in the 2022-23 season.

Three trophies in the 2023-24 campaign – including La Liga and the Champions League – plus increased match-day revenue following the completion of renovation works at the Santiago Bernabeu ensured they stayed top of the list.

Deloitte said Real’s matchday revenue doubled to €248 million, while a new sleeve sponsorship and increased merchandise sales produced commercial revenue of €482 million – a 20 per cent increase.

The report also said that the top 20 revenue-generating clubs in the world made a record €11.2 billion in the 2023-24 season, thanks to record commercial, broadcast and match-day revenues.

Although City beat their own revenue record and remain the highest revenue-generating club in the lucrative English Premier League with €838 million, the gap between first and second (€208 million) is the largest that Deloitte has ever recorded.

Paris Saint-Germain (€806 million), Manchester United (€771 million) and Bayern Munich (€765 million) round out the top five.

The need for European football was highlighted by Juventus’ fall from 11th to 16th after the Serie A side were excluded from European competition in 2023-24 over breaches of Uefa’s club licensing and financial fair play rules.

On the other hand, clubs like Arsenal (€717 million), Borussia Dortmund (€514 million), Newcastle United (€372 million) and Aston Villa (€310 million) grew revenues by playing in various European competitions.

“While commercial revenue dominates the income of the top-10 Money League clubs, broadcast income remains crucial for teams in the second half of the rankings,” Tim Bridge, lead partner in the Deloitte Sports Business Group, said.

“As competitions expand and create more broadcast and matchday opportunities, these can further increase the earning potential for clubs.”

Thanks to their commercial revenue streams, Liverpool (€715 million), Tottenham Hotspur (€615 million) and Chelsea (€546 million) still managed to stay in the top 10, despite reduced broadcast income after missing out on the Champions League.

Barcelona also saw a €63 million fall in matchday revenue after they were forced to play at the smaller Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, while the Nou Camp was being redeveloped. However, the Spanish club remain top of the list of women’s sides for a third straight year with €18 million in revenue, a 26 per cent increase from the 2022-23 season.

Arsenal Women (€18 million) are second, followed by Chelsea (€13 million), Man United (€11 million) and Real (€11 million). REUTERS

Top 10 Clubs (Total Revenue)

1. Real Madrid, €1.045.5 billion
2. Manchester City, €837.8 million
3. Paris Saint-Germain, €805.9m
4. Manchester United, €770.6m
5. Bayern Munich, €765.4m
6. Barcelona, €760.3m
7. Arsenal, €716.5m
8. Liverpool, €714.7m
9. Tottenham Hotspur, €615.0m
10. Chelsea, €545.5m