March 12 – The German FA (DFL) has released its Economic Report for the 2023-24 season, and once again, German football’s financial strength is on full display, showing impressive growth and setting new records for revenue, employment, and financial sustainability.
Headlining the report, the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 generated a record €5.87 billion in revenue – up 12% from last season’s €5.24 billion – while contributing over €1.66 billion in taxes and duties to the public purse.
The financial strength of Germany’s clubs was also on display, with 32 of the 36 teams across both divisions holding positive equity (where the market value of the club exceeds debt) – an achievement that underscores the Bundesliga’s reputation for responsible and sustainable management. The wages-to-cost ratio, which measures payroll costs against total expenditure, fell to 34%.
Employment within German professional football also reached an all-time high, with 62,000 people working across the two leagues – surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 56,000 in 2018-19 by more than 10%.
Bundesliga 2 also enjoyed a milestone year, surpassing €1 billion in revenue for the first time. However, despite these strong figures, profitability remains its own challenge, with only nine Bundesliga clubs and eight Bundesliga 2 clubs posting a profit in 2023-24.
Hans-Joachim Watzke, Speaker of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga Executive Committee and Chairman of the DFL Supervisory Board, said: “With its key figures for the 2023-24 season, German professional football is sending positive economic signals against the general trend. Furthermore, and beyond the economic dimension, football has a positive impact on society. Our stadiums are places where people from all walks of life can come together and share emotions and unforgettable moments.”
The report also detailed that more than 20.7 million tickets were sold last season, setting a new attendance record, with expectations that this figure will climb further by the end of the 2024-25 season.
With record revenues, financial prudence, and rising fan engagement, German football is proving once again why it remains one of the most well-run and sustainable leagues in the world.
DFL CEO Marc Lenz, said: “Our clubs finance themselves from a balanced revenue mix and were able to both reduce the proportion of personnel costs for the squads and generate transfer surpluses. With a renewed revenue growth and a rational use of funds, the clubs are strengthening their financial position.
“We must also introduce healthy financial management in Europe – so that European football is fit for the future and healthy leagues and clubs remain competitive.”
DFL CEO Steffen Merkel added: “After the 2023-24 season, we have a strong overall balance sheet in the books that sends a clear message: German professional football makes a significant positive contribution to life in Germany, not only emotionally but also economically.
“Central marketing is an basis for economic stability. On average, almost every third euro generated by the clubs comes from this. It must therefore be our common goal to further strengthen our centralised marketing approach – the awarding of national media rights from 2025-26 is only a first, albeit enormously important, step in this direction.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1741802800labto1741802800ofdlr1741802800owedi1741802800sni@g1741802800niwe.1741802800yrrah1741802800