Il European football is in good health. In the 2022/23 season, the EU football market has reached a total turnover of 35,3 billion euros, marking a del% increase 16 compared to the previous season. An increase that was supported by the lifting of the restrictions linked to Covid-19, which allowed the return of fans to the stadiums, and by the positive impact generated by the 2022 World Cup. And the Serie A which records the highest growth among the European leagues, with an increase in revenues of 22% compared to the previous season, reaching a new record of 2,9 billion euros. These are the data that emerge from the 33rd edition of the Annual Review of Football Finance published by Deloitte Sports Business Group.
Football: revenues of the 5 main leagues
I five major European championships – Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A and Ligue 1 – remain at the top of takings and in the 2022/23 season record a 14% revenue growth, reaching a total of 19,6 billion euros. This result was driven by the increase in matchday revenues, the new sponsorship agreements and the use of the stadiums even on non-match days.
Overall, clubs from the five major European leagues recorded a aggregate operating profit of 500 million euros for the first time since 2018/19, with average wages/income ratios declining across all leagues. This result was favored by a significant increase in aggregate revenues, equal to 2,3 billion euros, which exceeded the increase in the clubs' wage costs, which increased by 700 million euros.
Thanks above all to the return of fans to the stadiums, to record the higher percentage growth in revenues compared to the previous season they are the Bundesliga (Germany) and the Serie A (Italy) with an increase of 22% for each. However, despite the excellent results obtained by the two championships, the gap with the Premier League remains significant, with Serie A also behind the Spanish La Liga. The English top flight continues to dominate in terms of revenues, with a total turnover of €7,2 billion.
Premier League queen of revenues, Serie A and Bundesliga are growing
La Premier League continues to dominate the European football landscape in terms of revenues. In the 2022/23 season, clubs in the English top flight recorded a aggregate turnover of 6,1 billion pounds (approximately 7,2 billion euros), an increase of 11% compared to the previous year. The result was driven by a 14% increase in matchday revenue (£867 million), a new record of average attendance in the Championship, by an increase in commercial revenues (to £2 billion) and a 9% increase in television revenues (to £3,2 billion).
Great growth however for Bundesliga which consolidates in second place for highest revenues, generating total revenues of €3,8 billion in the 2022/23 season, an increase of 22% compared to the previous year. A result produced by highest average attendance at the stadium among the five main European leagues and by a 10% growth in television revenues, thanks to the better performances of German clubs in the Champions League.
In third place is stable Liga spagnola which despite an 8% decline in television revenues, mainly due to less brilliant performances in European competitions, recorded aggregate revenues of €3,5 billion in the 2022/23 season, marking a new record. Matchday revenues increased significantly, by 32%, and commercial revenues, by 29%, reaching 274 million euros.
It is also a record revenue for the Italian Serie A who reached i 2,9 billion euros in the 2022/23 season, an increase of 22% compared to the previous year. A result made possible thanks to a boom in matchday revenues, increased by 88% (434 million euros), due to the return of fans to the stadiums and the greater turnout compared to previous years. Also good were broadcast revenues, which grew by 15% (1,5 billion euros) and commercial revenues which approached one billion euros (0,9 billion), with an increase of 14%, thanks to new sponsorship agreements and greater visibility of the championship. The revenues of Serie A clubs have exceeded salary costs for the first time since 2016/17, recording a total increase of 10% and an average salary to income ratio of 94%.
The ranking of the top 5 championships by revenue closes French Ligue 1. Despite the loss of Messi and PSG's monopoly, there was only a slight reduction in television revenues (down 3% to 0,7 billion euros), which did not affect the overall growth of revenues of 17%, reaching 2,4 billion euros.
The ranking of the top 5 leagues by revenue for the 2022/23 season:
- Premier League: 7,2 billion euros
- Bundesliga: 3,8 billion euros
- Liga: 3,5 billion euros
- Serie A: 2,9 billion euros
- Ligue 1: 2,4 billion euros
“The 2022 FIFA World Cup, the lifting of the latest Covid-19 restrictions and the passion of fans have led to strong growth in the European football market in 2022/23,” he said Tim Bridge, lead partner of the Sports Business Group of Deloitte. “If in all leagues we discuss in terms of further regulation and investment, the European football is located at a turning point. It is becoming an increasingly globally connected sport and this brings new challenges to maintaining competitive balance, governance and regulation. Leaders across the industry must present a united front in following the principles of good governance to build a future for European football that fans, players and partners across all leagues can be excited about."
