Having generated record revenue of €750.9m (£665.2m), Real Madrid takes the top spot for a record twelfth time, and the first time since 2014/15, generating €750.9m (£665.2m) in revenue.
Despite a return to Champions League football, Manchester United (£590m) drop to third place with the slowest rate of revenue growth (2%) of any club in the top five.
The world’s top 20 revenue-generating football clubs include four from the North West, according to the 22nd edition of the Deloitte Football Money League: Manchester United (3rd), Manchester City (5th), Liverpool (7th) and Everton (17th).
Manchester City (£503.5m) have consolidated their place in the top five, ranking fifth for a third consecutive year. The 2017/18 season saw City win the Premier League by the largest ever points margin and the club broke the £500m revenue barrier for the first time, with growth across all revenue streams.
Liverpool (£455.1m) rank seventh after their 2017/18 Champions League Final appearance contributed to impressive total revenue growth of £90.6m. Liverpool’s broadcast revenue alone, which increased £65.8m to £222.6m as a result of amounts received from UEFA, would be sufficient for a place in the top 15 of this year’s Money League.
Everton (£188.6m) climb three places to 17th this year, the club’s best ever position in the Money League. The return of European football had a positive impact on matchday and broadcast revenue, whilst a record shirt front sponsorship arrangement with SportPesa helped provide commercial growth to take the club to a new record level of revenue overall.
Dan Jones, partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, comments: “European football remains a bull market, with annual revenue growth of almost €450 million in this year’s Football Money League. At the top, we have seen Real Madrid shatter records, becoming the first club to break the three-quarters of a billion euro mark and claim a record twelfth Money League title in the process.
“Manchester United slip to third place in this year’s Money League after two years in top position, despite a return to the Champions League in 2017/18 and overall revenue growth of 2%. Further revenue growth is expected in 2018/19 and a continuation of recent on pitch improvements will help in building a virtuous circle of football and commercial success.”
Sam Boor, senior manager in the Sports Business Group added: “Despite Manchester United’s two year reign at the top of the Money League coming to an end, the financial performance of North West clubs continues to impress. The region has the same number of clubs in the top 20 as the best performing country outside England (Italy: Juventus, Internazionale, AS Roma and AC Milan).
“With Liverpool and Manchester City currently occupying positions towards the top of the Premier League, and three of the four North-West Money League clubs through to the Round of 16 of this season’s UEFA Champions League, there is the potential for even further revenue growth next year.”
To review the full findings of the Deloitte Football Money League, please visit: www.deloitte.co.uk/sportsbusinessgroup.
