Manchester United have deposed Real Madrid as the world’s richest soccer club after revenue grew to a record $735 million in 2015-16, according to Deloitte’s annual Money League published yesterday.
The 20-times English champions knocked Madrid off the perch they had occupied for 11 years with a return to the Champions League and increased commercial revenue key to their rise. Real dropped to third behind Barcelona with Bayern Munich fourth and Manchester City into the top five for the first time after a run to the Champions League semi-finals. Only two Turkish clubs, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, made the top 30 while the Yellow Canaries ranked 25th with a revenue of $168 million and the Lions 26th with a revenue of $166 million. Eight of the top 20 (including five of the top 10) revenue generators are from the Premier League, reflecting the greater financial clout England’s top-flight clubs enjoy compared with their European counterparts.
Surprise champions Leicester City made the list for the first time in 20th place and Tim Bridge, senior manager at Deloitte, said it is likely every Premier League club will be in the top 30 next year thanks to an eye-watering 5.1 billion pounds television rights deal that kicked in this season.
“The Money League continues to demonstrate the Premier League’s financial strength in depth,” Bridge, senior manager at Deloitte, said. “The appearance of Leicester shows that on-pitch success gives any Premier League club a chance of a place in the top 20.
