Article
Annual Review of Football Finance 2017
Ahead of the curve
The 26th edition of the Deloitte UK Sports Business Group's publication returns to two familiar themes – the continuation of relentless revenue growth across Europe’s major leagues, in particular the Premier League, and the commitment of this money to spending on players via transfer fees and wages, again led by English clubs.
However, the 2015/16 season will be forever remembered for Leicester City’s remarkable Premier League title triumph, despite being ranked 15th by wage costs, demonstrating that there are other factors beyond wage spend which contribute to clubs’ on-pitch performance.
About the report
The full Report is once again available to download for free from the link opposite. We hope that you find it both interesting and useful. If you would like to discuss this year's analysis and predictions and their implications for your business in more detail, please feel free to get in touch.
The Report includes analysis of the business drivers and financial trends and prospects for clubs in some of the top leagues in European football and in the top four divisions of English football, with a particular focus on Premier League and Championship clubs. It also features commentary on emerging trends impacting the football industry including eSports, new digital viewing platforms, the adoption of financial fair play regulations and an update on China’s impact on the football industry.
We also have a preview of our Football Intelligence Tool, a digital service for use with clients to benchmark European football clubs across a range of business and market metrics, which is in use by a number of Premier League clubs and continues to generate great interest both in the UK and further afield.
Download the report
Click on a group countries to explore the data for that region
Click for detail
Revenue
'Big five' European league clubs' revenues - 2015/16 (€m)
Average revenue per club (€m)
243
151
122
96
74
Average match attendance
36,490
42,420
27,626
21,680
20,894
Stadium utilisation
96%
90%
76%
52%
70%
Note: Commerical revenue is not disaggregated into 'sponsorship' and 'other commerical' for clubs in England, Spain and Italy.
Source: Leagues; Deloitte analysis
'Big five' European league clubs' revenues and wage costs - 2014/15 and 2015/16 (€m)
14/15
15/16
14/15
15/16
14/15
15/16
14/15
15/16
14/15
15/16
Wages/revenue ratio
61%
63%
52%
49%
62%
61%
72%
70%
67%
69%
Average club wages (€m)
134
152
69
75
64
74
65
67
48
51
Selected other European league clubs' revenues - 2015/16 (€m)
Average revenue per club (€m)
27
14
10
16
12
8
Wages/revenue ratio
58%
56%
46%
66%
67%
59%
Number of clubs
18
14
16
10
12
16
Note: This chart includes a sample of countries ranking below fifth in terms of average club revenues. Figures in respect of clubs in Sweden relate to the year to December 2015. Figures in respect of clubs in Denmark and Poland relate to the year to December 2016.
Revenue
Premier League clubs' revenues - 2013/14 - 2017/18 (£m)
Values for 2016/17 and 2017/18 are projected
13/14
14/15
15/16
16/17
17/18
Average revenue per club (£m)
163
168
182
223
228
Source: Deloitte analysis
Premier League and Championship clubs' average revenues - 2015/16 (£m)
Note: UCL clubs comprised Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. UEL clubs comprised Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
Source: Premier League; UEFA; Deloitte analysis.
Premier League clubs' revenues and wage costs - 2014/15 and 2015/16 (£m)
2014/15
2015/16
Wages/revenue ratio
61%
63%
Average club wages (£m)
102
114
Source: Deloitte analysis.
Revenue
Football League clubs' revenues - 2014/15 and 2015/16 (£m)
14/15
15/16
Championship
22.8
23.2
League 1
5.2
5.7
League 2
3.4
3.6
Source: Deloitte analysis.
Football League clubs' revenues and wage costs - 2014/15 and 2015/16 (£m)
Championship
League 1
League 2
Wages/revenue ratio
99%
101%
86%
83%
72%
70%
Average club wages (£m)
22.6
23.4
4.5
4.7
2.5
2.5
Source: Deloitte analysis.
Premier League and Football League clubs' player transfer payments - 2015/16 (£m)
Note: The arrows represent the flow of payments, whilst the players transfer the opposite way. The estimated amount of fees in respect of the transfer of player registrations refer to amounts committed in 2015/16, rather than actual cashflows. The sources for the amounts in the chart relate to periods that are not necessarily coterminous.
Source: Premier League; Football League; Deloitte analysis.
For more detailed analysis please download the report for free
Want more?
In addition, the Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance - Databook is available to purchase via the Deloitte Store. The 32 page Databook contains over 8,000 data items on various topics covered in the Report, prepared on the basis of our specialist and long-established methodologies. It is the most comprehensive source of football finance data currently available.
Previous editions of the report are also available on Deloitte Store.
Previous editions
Annual Review of Football Finance 2016 - Reboot
Annual Review of Football Finance 2015 - Revolution
Annual Review of Football Finance 2014 - A premium blend
Annual Review of Football Finance 2013 - Turn on, tune in, turnover
Annual Review of Football Finance 2012 - New rules, narrow margins
Annual Review of Football Finance 2011 - Pressure for change
Annual Review of Football Finance 2010 - National interest