Real Madrid Achieves Milestone as First Club to Generate 1 Billion Euros in Revenue in a Season

Real Madrid has achieved a groundbreaking milestone, becoming the first football club to generate an astounding 1 billion euros in revenue within a single season. This historic accomplishment occurred during the 2023-24 campaign, a season in which the club secured three prestigious trophies, including LaLiga and the Champions League. A substantial increase in matchday revenue, driven by major renovations at the iconic Bernabeu Stadium, further cemented their position atop the global revenue rankings.

According to Deloitte’s latest report, Real Madrid’s matchday revenue doubled, reaching 248 million euros. Additionally, a new sleeve sponsorship agreement and a surge in merchandise sales elevated their commercial revenue to an impressive 482 million euros, representing a 19% increase compared to the previous year.

The report also reveals that the top 20 revenue-generating football clubs collectively amassed a record-breaking total of 11.2 billion euros during the 2023-24 season. This achievement was fueled by unprecedented matchday, broadcast, and commercial revenue figures.

Real Madrid’s revenue significantly surpasses that of their nearest competitor, Manchester City, which ranks second in the Money League with 838 million euros in revenue. Despite Manchester City breaking its own revenue records and remaining the Premier League’s highest revenue-generating club, the gap between Real Madrid and Manchester City has reached an unprecedented 208 million euros.

The top five revenue-generating clubs also include Paris Saint-Germain (806 million euros), Manchester United (771 million euros), and Bayern Munich (765 million euros).

The report highlights shifting dynamics in European football, as seen in Juventus’ decline from 11th to 16th place after their exclusion from European competitions in the 2023-24 season due to breaches of UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations.

In contrast, clubs like Arsenal (717 million euros), Borussia Dortmund (514 million euros), Newcastle United (372 million euros), and Aston Villa (310 million euros) experienced revenue growth thanks to their participation in various European competitions.

Tim Bridge, lead partner in the Deloitte Sports Business Group, commented, “While commercial revenue dominates the income of the top 10 Money League clubs, broadcast income remains vital for those in the lower half of the rankings. As competitions expand, they create more broadcast and matchday opportunities, boosting revenue potential for clubs.”

Interestingly, despite reduced broadcast income from failing to qualify for the Champions League, Liverpool (715 million euros), Tottenham Hotspur (615 million euros), and Chelsea (546 million euros) remained in the top ten due to their strong commercial revenue streams.

Meanwhile, Barcelona faced a decline of 63 million euros in matchday revenue as they played at the smaller Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys during Camp Nou’s redevelopment. However, the Spanish club continues to dominate the women’s football revenue rankings for the third consecutive year, generating 17.9 million euros, a 26% increase from the previous season.

In the women’s football revenue rankings, Arsenal Women follow closely with 17.9 million euros, while Chelsea, Manchester United, and Real Madrid complete the top five, earning 13.4 million euros, 10.7 million euros, and 10.5 million euros, respectively.