European Football Revenues Exceed €40 Billion in 2024/25 Season

European football revenues surpassed €40 billion for the first time in the 2024/25 season, though growth is beginning to show signs of stagnation, according to a report from financial firm Deloitte. The continent's football leagues generated €40.2 billion for the season, which concluded in mid-last year, marking an increase of over €2 billion from the previous year. The five leading European championships – the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, and French Ligue 1 – accounted for over €21.6 billion of this total.

However, Deloitte analysts suggest that simply adding more matches to an already congested calendar is not a sustainable solution. Average club revenues are expected to plateau or even decline in 2025/26 and 2026/27. "The expansion of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) and FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) tournaments has brought financial gains to Europe's 'big five' leagues, but football cannot rely solely on adding more content to deliver sustainable growth. An increasingly saturated market may not be beneficial for players or fans, especially if it weakens on-field performances. This approach, without a collective mindset from all stakeholders, risks prioritizing short-term gains over long-term prosperity," stated Tim Bridge, a lead partner at Deloitte.

The English Premier League remains Europe's most lucrative league, with its clubs generating £6.8 billion in revenue – an 8% increase, projected to exceed £7 billion for the 2025/26 season. The Bundesliga recorded a 12% increase, reaching revenues of €4 billion for the first time, while La Liga brought in €4.1 billion, with 52% of that sum coming from its two biggest clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Serie A saw a modest 4% rise to €3 billion, while Ligue 1 experienced a 15% decline, dropping to €2.2 billion in revenue.