Deloitte’s latest Football Money League numbers, which rank the most lucrative clubs on the planet, has dropped and here’s who make the list.
Deloitte published the 2022 Football Money League, which analyses the finances of the clubs which generate the highest revenue, in March 2022.
The latest findings showed that the top 20 clubs, all based in Europe, pulled in an average revenue of €409 million (£340m/$450m), with those figures representing a marginal increase on 2019-20.
According to the report, clubs in the Money League missed out on more than €2 billion (£1.7bn/$2.2bn) as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with the absence of supporters from grounds impacting teams across two domestic campaigns.
Which club is the richest in the world?
Barcelona were named the world’s richest football club in 2021, according to the Deloitte rankings, but Manchester City have risen to the summit in 2022 after generating revenue of €644.9 million (£537m/$709m).
On the back of much-publicised financial difficulties, Barcelona have tumbled into fourth spot behind Clasico rivals Real Madrid and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
There are 11 Premier League teams inside the top 20, with Paris Saint-Germain the only representatives from France while German and Italian football provide two entrants apiece.
You can view the top 20 rankings with the total revenue (broadcast, matchday and commercial) below.
Deloitte 2022 Football Money League rankings: The world’s top 20 richest football clubs
| Ranking | Team | Total revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | €644.9m |
| 2 | Real Madrid | €640.7m |
| 3 | Bayern Munich | €611.4m |
| 4 | Barcelona | €582.1m |
| 5 | Manchester United | €558.0m |
| 6 | Paris Saint-Germain | €556.2m |
| 7 | Liverpool | €550.4m |
| 8 | Chelsea | €493.1m |
| 9 | Juventus | €433.5m |
| 10 | Tottenham | €406.2m |
| 11 | Arsenal | €366.5m |
| 12 | Borussia Dortmund | €337.6m |
| 13 | Atletico Madrid | €332.8m |
| 14 | Inter | €330.9m |
| 15 | Leicester City | €255.5m |
| 16 | West Ham United | €221.5m |
| 17 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | €219.2m |
| 18 | Everton | €218.1m |
| 19 | Zenit | €212.0m |
| 20 | Aston Villa | €207.3m |
The top 10 richest football clubs are dominated by five Premier League teams, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, while Arsenal are placed at 11th in the table and Leicester now sit 15th just above West Ham United, Wolves and Everton.
The rest of the top 20 is rounded out by the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Inter, Atletico Madrid, Zenit and other big European names.
Manchester City’s rise is dramatic, if not all that surprising, as they jump five places into top spot, while Barcelona are the biggest name to be stuck in reverse.
They revealed debts €1.2 billion (£1.1b/$1.5b) before eventually being forced to part with seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi in the summer of 2021 – as the mercurial Argentine headed to PSG – and a long-term rebuild in Catalunya remains a work in progress.
Outside of the top 20 and within the top 30, there are three more Premier League sides to be found in the form of Leeds United, Southampton and Newcastle United – fresh from their big-money takeover – while Roma, Atalanta, Napoli, Lazio and AC Milan all figure from Serie A.
Source: GOAL
