Football clubs have drastically increased in their value over the years due to the heavy investment made by companies and club owners in several areas.
One aspect often looked at when judging the quality of football teams is their worth. Today the majority of the richest football clubs in the world can be found on the European continent due to apparent reasons like popularity, audience and sponsorship.
As per Transfermarkt, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain are the top soccer teams rich list as per their current worth. These clubs are worth in the excess of €587.25m.
Note: Article is based on Transfermarkt valuation.
Top 10 richest football clubs in the world 2023
10. Tottenham Hotspur – €587.25m
Tottenham Hotspur has been on the world map for quite a while. The London based club is one of the highest-earning football clubs in English football.
Tottenham Hotspur recently completed its football stadium designed to host NFL games at least once a year. Valued at around £1 billion, the Tottenham Hotspur stadium is expected to increase the club’s income by more than twenty per cent.
Spurs have some of the most valuable players, from Harry Kane to Son Heung-min. This season, Antonio Conte has been saddled with the responsibility of taking the club back to the Champions League and possibly winning titles.
In Conte’s first European assignment, he took Spurs to a third-place finish in Group G.
MORE: Every Antonio Conte trophy listed
Tottenham Hotspur, one of the wealthiest soccer teams in England, have a lucrative partnership with top companies like Cinch, AIA, Nike, HSBC, FUN88, Heineken, etc.
9. Atlético de Madrid – €660.50m
Atlético Madrid is another force on the European continent. The club have been consistent in European football competitions, where they have managed to finish at least in the quarter-finals.
In 2019/2020, Atlético Madrid won their eleventh Spanish La Liga title at the expense of a dismal Barcelona and Real Madrid teams.
Coach Diego Simeone has managed the club despite limited funds for players in the transfer market even though Atlético have made some significant signings in the transfer market.
Today, Atlético Madrid has some of the most valuable players. Some of the top players at the club are Jan Oblak (€60.00m), Marcos Llorente (€60.00m), João Félix (€70.00m), Antoine Griezmann (€50.00m), etc.
Atlético de Madrid signed lucrative deals with companies like Plus500, Hyundai, Capital Energy, Ria Money, Phillip Plein, Acronis, etc.
8. FC Barcelona – €679.00m
FC Barcelona is one of the global football brands. The Spanish La Liga club is a primary destination for investors with an ever-increasing worldwide audience.
One of the greatest footballers, Lionel Messi, spent 18 years at FC Barcelona. His performance had also led to the club’s increased investors.
But Barcelona is more than a club. The Catalans, as per the Spanish La Liga TV rights formula, earn more money from broadcasting rights domestically and internationally.
Recently, global audio streaming platform Spotify signed a lucrative deal worth €280 million (£236m/$309m).
The deal between Barcelona and Spotify would see the company own the naming rights of Barcelona’s stadium. Thus, it would now be known as the Spotify Camp Nou and shirt branding.
Other top companies that have immensely contributed to FC Barcelona’s income stream are Rakuten, Beko, oppo, Scotia Bank, etc.
Barca has also got some of the most valuable players in their squad. Some Barcelona players with a high market value include Pedri (€80.00m), Frenkie de Jong (€70.00m), Ansu Fati (€60.00m), Gavi (€60.00m), etc.
7. Manchester United – €721.25m
Manchester United is one of England’s biggest football clubs, a global brand and a top destination for investors. The club has attracted interest from cooperative entities due to its rich history and popularity around the globe.
Man United boast of one of the biggest season attendance in the Premier League. Old Trafford, which is the home ground for the club, receives thousands of visitors yearly which have contributed immensely to the growth of the club.
The return of Cristiano Ronaldo to the club has also increased jersey sales across the globe. The Portuguese, who is ranked as one of the all-time greats in football, has continued to draw attention wherever he plays.
Ahead of the 2021/22 season, United signed a lucrative deal with Germany-based software firm TeamViewer worth £235m. Apart from this deal, the club also work with Tezos, Kohler, Apollo Tyres ·, Cadbury, Canon, DHL, etc.
Man United has one of the most valuable squads in the English top flight. Players like Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho are valued at around €90.00m and €80.00m, respectively.
6. Real Madrid – €756.50m
Real Madrid is one of the most successful teams in world football today. The Los Blancos are also the most popular football team on the planet.
Real Madrid’s success has led to an increase in sponsors. The club recently wrapped up the renovation of the essential areas of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. With new arrangements made, the new-look stadium would increase the club’s annual income.
The Los Blancos also have a good team full of players with soaring market value. Some of the top players in the team include Vinicius Junior (€100.00m), Federico Valverde (€65.00m), Éder Militão (€60.00m) etc.
Carlo Ancelotti won the 2021/22 Spanish La Liga title. The Italian is poised to take the club to a higher level.
How does Real Madrid make their money? The Los Blancos have working sponsorship deals with numerous multinational corporations like Audi, Emirates, Hankook, Mahou, Adobe, Cisco, etc.
5. Bayern Munich – €804.50m
Bayern Munich is much more than a giant in the German football community. It is also a global brand. The club became the second European club to win the continental treble twice in 2019/20.
Bayern is one of the highest-earning football clubs globally. The club has sponsors across the globe who pay heavily every year. Some of the top companies that work with the club are T Mobile, Allianz, Audi, Siemens, Tipico, etc.
Apart from that, the club’s home ground, the Allianz Arena, has continued to receive visitors in the thousands yearly. The stadium is widely known for its exterior of inflated ETFE plastic panels with full colour changing exterior, attracting thousands of visitors.
MORE: The Allianz Arena and the biggest football stadiums in Germany ranked
Also, Bayern Munich has some of the best players, including Robert Lewandowski, Leroy Sane, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, and Kingsley Coman.
4. Chelsea FC – €852.00m
Chelsea’s efforts in the transfer market have yielded promising results. The London based club won the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League against Man City.
Coach Thomas Tuchel, who was appointed halfway into his first season, was able to win two major trophies (Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup).
MORE: Every Thomas Tuchel trophy listed
Chelsea is a traditional English football club with fans spread across the globe. The club has generated so much income from sponsors and jersey sales.
The London based club has some of the most brilliant players, including Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Christian Pulisic, etc.
Chelsea is sponsored by some top brands globally like Trivia, Go Markets, Zapp, Yokohama Tires, etc.
3. Liverpool FC – €900.50m
Liverpool FC, led by Jürgen Klopp, won the English Premier League title in the 2019/20 season. This achievement led to a significant increase in the club’s revenue.
The Reds also have well-known players in Europe, from Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Virgil van Dijk, and Luiz Diaz to Sadio Mané, Andy Robertson, and Thiago Alcantara.
The availability of the players above raised the attendance at the Anfield stadium to a record high. This has now increased the club’s income.
That being said, Liverpool FC has a couple of sponsorship deals worth millions with big names like Standard Chartered, Nike, AXA, Expedia, etc.
2. Paris Saint-Germain – €903.45m
Paris Saint-Germain is one of the most popular football teams globally. The french team backed by Qatar Investment Authority have since become a contender on the European scene.
The arrival of Neymar Jr, which cost the club about €222m, yielded more gains, including the sale of most shirts at Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian, together with other stars like Kylian Mbappé, Angel Di Maria and Marquinhos, have increased the club’s popularity.
MORE: Most expensive football transfers of all time
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ohyYkHLNFLI
In 2021, Paris Saint-Germain brought Lionel Messi. This decision made the Parc Des Princes, the club’s home ground, a fortress and a top destination for fans across Europe.
PSGs earn from jersey sales and stadium visits. The club has numerous corporate sponsors like Accor Live Limitless, Ooredoo, QNB, Orange, etc.
1. Manchester City – €959.30m
Manchester City is the richest football club in the world. The Cityzens have not fallen short of sponsors amid its near-perfect performance.
Led by Pep Guardiola, Manchester City has been impressive in the English top-flight and Europe. The Spanish football manager strengthened the team by signing the best legs across the major leagues in Europe.
Today, the Man City squad consists of some of the most valuable players in the Premier League. Some of these players are Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, João Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus, etc.
For Manchester City, the City Football Group takeover meant a lot to their history and future. The club has competed at the highest level of English football and Europe.
From 2011 to 2022, which is ten years, Man City have single handedly won five out of ten league titles. These performances have led to an increase in sponsorship.
Today, the Etihad Stadium, which has a capacity, is one of the most visited football stadiums in England, especially during match days and Tours. This led to an increase in the club’s overall revenue.
The city has a long-standing partnership with Etihad Airways, which has earned the club more money. The club also have other lucrative deals with companies like Nexen Tire, Tecno, Nissan, Midea, Etisalat, Puma, etc
Wrapping up
Football is one of the most exciting sports, and one would often prefer to watch teams play due to the drama, emotions, and entertainment. These scenarios have made it preferable for fans to follow more teams.
The increasing trends of fan involvement in football have increased the level of investment, thereby increasing the value of clubs.
The trends in heavy investment and endorsement have helped accelerate even the most minor average teams to the list of the most valuable teams the world offers.
