European Soccer Revenue Tops $45.5B For First Time

European club football revenues exceeded $45.6 billion for the first time during the 2024-25 season, according to Deloitte's Annual Review of Football Finance released Wednesday. The report also cautioned against unsustainable expansion of the football calendar. Revenues grew 13 percent compared to the previous season, driven largely by expanded UEFA and FIFA competitions including the Champions League and Club World Cup. Tim Bridge, lead partner in Deloitte's Sports Business Group, warned against prioritizing short-term revenue gains. "An increasingly saturated market may not be good for players or fans, particularly if it weakens the on-pitch spectacle," said Bridge. "This approach, without a collective mindset from all rightsholders, risks prioritizing short-term gain over long-term prosperity." Deloitte projects continued growth, forecasting $50.3 billion in revenue for 2025-26 and $52.1 billion the following season. The Premier League remains the primary driver, with 2024-25 revenues reaching $9.2 billion and expected to surpass $9.7 billion this coming season. The report highlighted growing financial separation between England's top flight and the rest of Europe. Premier League clubs spent $5.9 billion on wages in 2024-25, more than double the $2.9 billion spent by La Liga clubs, the next-highest total. Matchday revenue emerged as the only major income stream to grow across all five of Europe's top leagues, partly aided by additional UEFA competition fixtures. Premier League matchday revenue topped £1 billion for the first time during the season. Jennifer Haskel, the report's Knowledge and Insights Lead, emphasized the need for broader cooperation across European football. "Broad collective action" is required to maintain competitiveness across the continent, Haskel told The Athletic. The report also flagged rising financial losses across English football, along with disputes between clubs that Deloitte described as barriers to future collaborative growth.