Which clubs earned the most revenue in the Champions League league phase?

Manchester City is expected to receive the largest payout, with Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Arsenal also being major beneficiaries from the Champions League league phase.

How does the Champions League revenue system favor elite clubs?

The Champions League revenue system favors elite clubs through participation fees, prize money, and especially the 'value pillar,' which distributes funds based on market value and historical performance coefficients.

What is the 'value pillar' in Champions League revenue distribution?

The 'value pillar' is a payout system within the Champions League that distributes funds based on a club's market value and their historical performance coefficients over five and ten years.

Home / Sports / UEFA's Money League: Rich get richer

UEFA's Money League: Rich get richer

9 Feb

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Summary

Champions League revenue heavily favors elite clubs.
Top Premier League clubs dominate revenue rankings.
Value pillar significantly boosts earnings for top teams.

The current Champions League structure disproportionately benefits elite clubs, exacerbating financial disparities within the sport. Seven of the top eight clubs in the 2024-25 'Money League,' compiled by the Swiss Ramble, are among the highest revenue earners. Notably, five of these dominant clubs compete in the English Premier League, highlighting a significant financial concentration.

UEFA's revenue distribution model, comprising participation fees, prize money, and the 'value pillar,' is designed to reinforce this trend. The 'value pillar,' in particular, a payout based on market value and historical performance coefficients, significantly boosts the earnings of established European giants. This system creates a 'virtuous cycle,' where existing wealth facilitates greater future earnings.

While all 36 participating clubs receive a base participation fee of €18.6 million, prize money is awarded for wins, draws, and final league standings. Arsenal, for instance, earned €40.6 million in prize money alone due to a perfect league phase record. However, even this impressive sum ranks them fourth in total estimated revenue, demonstrating the overwhelming impact of the value pillar.