ARSENAL has surpassed Liverpool and London rivals Spurs and Chelsea in the latest football earnings rankings.
The Gunners had previously slipped to 10th in the global revenue standings after a five-year absence from European competitions.
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Their return to the Champions League last season, coupled with a close finish in the Premier League, allowed the Emirates team to generate £605.5m, lifting them to seventh position in a ranking led by Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants made history as the first club in Uefa football to earn over £1 billion Euros in the 2023-24 season. After significant renovations to their stadium, the Bernabeu side earned £883.7m while securing their 15th European title.
Manchester City remains in second place with earnings of £708.1m, with the gap between them and Madrid expanding from just £5m in 2022-23 to £175m last season.
In other news, Manchester United moved up from fifth to fourth, overtaking Barcelona, which dropped two places despite a revenue increase of less than £3m, from £648.5m to £651.4m.
However, it is Arsenal that has made the most remarkable leap, while Spurs’ absence from European competitions led to their fall from eighth to ninth, according to the latest Deloitte Football Money League reports.
Tottenham had recorded a revenue of £549.2m in 2022-23 after reaching the Champions League last 16 but could not secure a European spot for the subsequent season.
This led to their income for 2023-24 dropping to £519.9m, a decline of £30m.
In contrast, Arsenal, which was eliminated by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, reported £258.2m from broadcasting, £129.7m from match-day revenue, and £217.9m from commercial agreements.
Liverpool, which held the seventh spot last year with £793.8m, has fallen back after earning £604.2m, while Chelsea also slipped one place to £461.2m, a £51.3m decrease.
This marks the first time since the 2016-17 season that the Gunners have outperformed both Liverpool and Chelsea.
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The Deloitte report emphasizes the financial strength of the Premier League, with Newcastle, West Ham, and Aston Villa all making the top 20 earners.
While nine clubs from the Premier League feature in that list, Spain, France, and Italy each have three clubs represented, along with Munich and Dortmund from the Bundesliga.
Premier League revenues are expected to rise by up to 20 percent next season due to new international broadcasting agreements, while television contracts in the other Big Five leagues are declining.
Deloitte’s Tim Bridge noted, “On-pitch performance is essential for clubs to rise to the upper tiers of the rankings, but successful teams can also diversify their revenues through innovative partnerships and the development of their owned or operated land and stadium facilities.
“Although commercial revenue is predominant among the top ten Money League clubs, broadcasting income remains vital for teams positioned lower in the rankings.
“As competitions expand, generating more broadcasting and match-day opportunities, this could further enhance clubs’ revenue potential.
“Amid growing demand for additional matchdays, this must be balanced with player welfare, as they are ultimately the key to on-field success, which can lead to greater off-field rewards for clubs.”
