Manchester United are the richest club in the world according to the latest report from professional services giant Deloitte.
Their latest Money League Table shows the reds regained first place in the Money League 2017, breaking the 11-year hold that Real Madrid had on top spot.
Record revenue of €689m (£515.3m) reflected strong growth across all three revenue categories (matchday, broadcast and commercial), boosted by the club’s return to the UEFA Champions League and new commercial partnerships.
The Money League is the most contemporary and reliable analysis of the clubs’ relative financial performance.
Rivals Manchester City scored season of first as they reached the Champions League semi- final and consequently also enter the Money 200 League top five.
Matchday revenues remain though relatively the weakest revenue
stream compared to peers. Despite the expansion of the Etihad Stadium, and
a 19% increase in City’s average home
league attendance, they have only the
ninth highest matchday revenue in the
Money League.
A fantastic 2015/16 Premier League
winning season for Leicester City saw them take a place amongst the top
20 revenue generating clubs globally 200 after seeing 23% growth in revenue, a percentage growth rate only bettered
by Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Atlético de Madrid.
Dan Jones, partner in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, said: “Manchester United have had to wait 11 years to regain their position as the world’s leading revenue generating club and it has taken phenomenal commercial revenue growth to help them achieve this.
“However, they’ll face strong competition from FC Barcelona and Real Madrid to retain the top spot in next year’s edition, due to the lack of Champions League football, the weakening of the Pound against the Euro and, over the longer term, as other clubs enter the commercial market demanding similar deals, using United as the precedent.“
