Compared to last year’s edition, there are five new entries — AC Milan, FC Porto, Paris Saint-Germain FC, Real Madrid CF, and Trabzonspor Kulübü — while only three clubs from Europe’s eight top football leagues could retain their domestic title: AFC Ajax, FC Bayern München and Manchester City FC.
The 2021/22 season has seen a progressive recovery of football clubs on the revenue side. Indeed, with the exception of FC Porto, whose worsened international performance depressed their income, all champions surveyed have managed to increase their operating revenues compared to the previous year’s, showing positive signs of a return to normalcy after the pandemic. Moreover, six clubs managed to improve their staff-costs-to-revenue ratio, and there were four (as opposed to one the year prior) profit-making champions in the past year: Manchester City FC, FC Porto, FC Bayern München, and Real Madrid CF.
Key takeaways from the report:
- English champions Manchester City FC lead all clubs globally in total operating revenue generated for the second year running (EUR 731m), slightly outperforming UCL winners Real Madrid CF (EUR 714m).
- The largest year-on-year percentage improvement in operating revenue was seen by AFC Ajax (+51%), mostly thanks to reaching the Round of 16 of the UCL.
- The report also premiers Paris Saint-Germain FC’s financials. The club recorded the highest commercial income among all European clubs and registered the highest staff costs ever reported by a football club (EUR 728m).
- Manchester City FC lead the pack with club-record profits, with FC Porto on the next step of the podium. Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern München have also managed to register net profits – two clubs that have successfully recorded positive results in all pandemic-impacted seasons.
