European football revenues to top €30B amid growing gap between leagues
European club football is entering a new phase of economic expansion, with total revenues projected to exceed €30 billion ($34.5 billion) by 2025, according to UEFA’s latest financial report.
The European Club Finance and Investment Landscape study, which analyzed data from 725 top-division clubs, shows that revenue growth over the past decade has been roughly 80%, driven increasingly by commercial activities rather than broadcasting rights. UEFA competition revenues rose more than 150%, while commercial income alone grew over 80%, with matchday revenues also rebounding strongly after the pandemic.
However, the report highlights a widening financial gap between Europe’s elite leagues and smaller competitions. The so-called “core leagues”—England’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A, and France’s Ligue 1—have pulled further ahead, with English clubs alone adding €3.5 billion in revenue over the past decade, exceeding the combined growth of 49 smaller leagues.
Rising revenues have also driven higher operating costs. European clubs now employ about 94,000 full-time staff, a 33% increase since 2019, and total player salaries are estimated at €13.5 billion, roughly 47% of club revenues.
UEFA’s report notes that while matchday and commercial income continue to grow, broadcasting revenues may be plateauing in several countries, with year-on-year declines in eight of the top 20 leagues.
