‘We are massive’ – Many fans react as Man City emerged as highest revenue club in the world

Manchester City have moved to the top of Deloitte’s list of the richest clubs in the world for the first time in their history.

The reigning Premier League champions, who were sixth in the list 12 months ago, have replaced Barcelona at the top of the tree.

Deloitte revealed that the Manchester City had topped their Money League for the 2020-21 season with a total annual revenue of £571.1million, (€644.9million), just ahead of Real Madrid’s £537.7million.

In the 25 years since the Money League was first introduced following the 1996-97 season, City’s revenue has grown from £12.7million to £571.1million.

The Premier League leaders are joined in the top-10 by another five English clubs, with United in fifth place, Liverpool and Chelsea seventh and eighth respectively and Tottenham in 10th place.

Bayern Munich finished third ahead of Barcelona, with Paris Saint-Germain in sixth and Juventus in ninth.

The news was shared on Twitter by City Xtra and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters.

“We are massive.”
Credit: @CitehApihsa

“Biggest club in the world.”
Credit: @SxrgioSZN

“They aren’t going to like this one.”
Credit: @pablophilcaso

“Wonder how we earn so much without fans 🤔.”
Credit: @LD7999

“This is revenue. Has nothing to do with buying or selling.”
Credit: @gggd_MCFC

“For people speculating that it’s all fraud. City reached the final of Champions League and earned 78M from it. Won Premier League and earned 150M. TV rights another 100M. that’s 328 M.”
Credit: @Mcfchonest

“The fact that we have more revenue than Man United says alot … Watch how that jumps when we get Haaland”
Credit: @MancityTRUE

“It’s simple. We’re less impacted by loss of matchday revenue than the others plus we got a lot of additional money from the Premier League & Champions League that was retained the previous season..”
Credit: @PrestwichBlue

“The well runned club in the world for a reason.”
Credit: @Gucciano17

What Deloite is saying about revenue:

Deloite revealed that COVID-19 impacted not only the Money League’s total revenue but its total revenue profile., adding that Some revenue streams accounted for a more significant portion of total revenue than usual, while others faded into near inexistence, as Manchester City has become only the fourth club to top the Money League. Only two leagues have managed to produce Money League title holders: La Liga (Spain) and the Premier League (England).

It stated, “Average revenue of Money League clubs was €409m in 2020/21, a marginal increase on the 2019/20 season thanks to broadcast deferrals, but a 12% decrease on the 2018/19 season due to the absence of fans on match days.”

It added that Elite club football has been buffeted by two years of financial turbulence due to the impact of COVID-19, but is emerging having demonstrated resilience and continued underlying growth underpinned by the global love for these great institutions and the entertainment they provide.

“Manchester City top the Money League for first time with revenue of £571.1m (€644.9m), becoming only the fourth club to ever top the Money League.

“Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus were the highest revenue generating clubs in each of Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues. While there was no change at the top in Germany, France, or Italy, there was a shift in England and Spain,” it added.

On Aggregate revenue, the report revealed that clubs averaged:

Average revenue of Money League clubs was €409m in 2020/21, a marginal increase on the 2019/20 season thanks to broadcast deferrals, but a 12% decrease on the 2018/19 season due to the absence of fans on matchdays.

€111 million in Match day revenue, the lowest ever in Money League history owing to the absence of fans in stadia.

€4.6 billion in Broadcast revenue, a €1.4bn increase from 2019/20, largely due to the deferrals of distributions relating to the completion of the 2019/20 season.

€3.5 billion in Commercial revenue, a 7% (€261m) decrease from the record high of 2019/20 (€3.8bn), which is not as significant as many had forecast.

€8.2 billion total revenue generated by this year’s Money League clubs, up less than 1% from 2019/20, but still over €1bn lower than in 2018/19 (€9.3bn).

A slight decline in on-pitch performance from the previous two seasons’ highs saw Liverpool (€550.4m) fall two places to seventh in this year’s Money League, whilst Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League triumph ensured they retained eighth position (€493.1m).

Despite an ever-changing economic environment, the top 14 clubs in this year’s Money League are consistent, but in a slightly rearranged order for the fourth successive year. Notably, this includes 11 of the 12 proposed European Super League founders (excluding AC Milan), with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain not amongst the original participants.

The top 20 highest earning clubs:

1.Manchester City, had a 2021 revenue of €644.9million, compared to €549.2million in 2020 with 48% coming from commercial revenue, at €308.2million and 52% from broadcast revenue at €335.9million
2. Real Madrid earned 2021 revenue of €640.7million compared to 2020 revenue of €691.8million
3. Bayern Munich earned a 2021 revenue of €611.4million comapred with €634.1million of 2020 revenue.
4. FC Barcelona €582.1 million
5. Manchester United: € 558 million
6. PSG: €556.2 million
7. Liverpool: €550.4 million
8. Chelsea: € 493.1 million
9. Juventus: €433.5 million
10. Tottenham: €406.2 million
11. Arsenal: €366.5 million
12. Borussia Dortmund: €337.6 million
13. Atletico Madrid: €332.8 million
14. Inter Milan: €330.9 million
15. Leicester City: €255.5 million
16. West Ham: €221.5 million
17. Wolverhampton Wanderers: €219.2 million.
18. Everton: €218.1 million
19. FC Zenit: €212 million
20. Aston Villa: €207.3 million.