European football revenues top €40bn as Deloitte warns over sustainability | OneFootball

Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance says European club revenues rose past €40bn in 2024-25, up 13 per cent on 2023-24. The report warns long-term health is at risk if growth depends on adding fixtures through expanded UEFA and FIFA competitions.

Lead partner Tim Bridge cautions that a saturated calendar may harm players and fans, weakening the spectacle, and that chasing short-term gains could undermine prosperity without a collective approach from rightsholders.

The Premier League led the surge with €8.1bn in 2024-25 and is expected to surpass €8.5bn in 2025-26. La Liga’s 2026-27 projection is €4.5bn, still 47 per cent below where England’s top flight is forecast this season.

Wage data further underlines the gap. Premier League clubs spent €5.2bn on wages in 2024-25, more than double La Liga’s €2.5bn. Spain, Germany and Italy reduced wage-to-revenue ratios, but rises in England and France erased overall progress.

Matchday income was the only stream to grow across all big five leagues, aided by extra UEFA dates. Premier League matchday takings topped £1bn for the first time, yet rising ticket prices and this summer’s World Cup costs have stirred discontent.

Deloitte projects further growth to €45.7bn in 2026-27, while revenue-linked rules tighten. UEFA’s squad cost ratio has been in place for three seasons, and the Premier League passed its own version last November. The new Independent Football Regulator is not a silver bullet, the report notes.

Source: NY Times