January 20 – The top 15 women’s clubs in Europe have passed the €100 million revenue mark for the first time, with cumulative revenues of €116.6 million in the 2023/24 season – a 35% year-on-year growth.
This is the third year the Deloitte Football Money League has been published for women’s clubs and for a third consecutive year, FC Barcelona Femení are top, generating €17.9 million in revenue, a 26% increase from the 2022/23 season.
Arsenal Women rank second with revenues of €17.9 million, having generated a 64% and 48% increase to matchday and commercial revenues in the 2023/24 season. Chelsea Women (€13.4 million) rank third, followed by Manchester United Women (€10.7 million), as well as Real Madrid Femenino (€10.5 million).
Eight of the top 15 women’s clubs were from the Women’s Super League (WSL) which Deloitte said will benefit this season from the new Barclays sponsorship, reported to have doubled in value to £15 million a year.
Deloitte also highlighted the increasing revenue importance of the Women’s Champions League and its prize money and broadcast revenue. All of the seven non-English clubs in the top 15 participated in the group stage
Tim Bridge, lead partner for the Deloitte Sports Business Group, said: “The 35% growth in revenues across the 2023/24 season is an impressive reflection of the growth of women’s football across some of its leading markets. Investors and leaders are now looking beyond just revenues and increasing their focus towards the sustainability and growth of clubs.”
Breaking the revenue sources down, commercial revenue accounted 66% of the total, while broadcast and matchday revenues accounted for 17%.
Deloitte highlight a growing match day attendance in many leagues with the WSL and Women’s Championship reported a cumulative attendance of over one million for the first time during the 2023/24 season. This has been boosted by clubs hosting their women’s teams increasingly in their main stadia during the 2023/24 season. Arsenal played six WSL matches at Emirates Stadium, breaking the WSL attendance record three times during the season.
Excluding Liga F, leagues in each of the ‘big five’ European football markets currently have a title sponsor. Meanwhile, all leagues – excluding Serie A Femminile – have multi-year, multi-million-Euro broadcast rights agreements, said Deloitte. The WSL and Liga F lead the way with broadcast deals with annual values of €8.7 million and €7 million, respectively.
“The expansion of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup demonstrates the demand for more games and competition. Pairing this with developing existing competitions, the introduction of new governance, and further investment can supercharge the participation in, professionalisation, and popularity of the women’s game for the long-term,” said Bridge.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1737368769labto1737368769ofdlr1737368769owedi1737368769sni@n1737368769osloh1737368769cin.l1737368769uap1737368769