Considering the current state of football, it’s no surprise that the world’s most beloved sport has become a financial powerhouse in today’s landscape. The beautiful game has evolved beyond just working-class passion and competition, turning into a global juggernaut where staggering transfers, lucrative sponsorships, and multi-billion pound broadcasting deals dominate the conversation.
As the global flow of money accelerates, football’s financial power continues to soar year after year, particularly in the Premier League and other top European leagues. Club owners are constantly discovering new ways to transform their ventures into sprawling empires, and the results are staggering. According to Forbes, the world’s most valuable football teams now boast an average worth of £1.77 billion, marking a 5% increase from just a year ago.
The same report lists the 30 most valuable clubs following the 2024/25 season, offering fascinating insights. While some teams dominate both the financial rankings and their domestic leagues, the findings reveal a mix of clubs performing either well above or below their economic limits. This contrast underscores the diverse financial landscapes within football, where success on the pitch doesn’t always align with a club’s financial muscle.
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30-21
Five MLS clubs & four Premier League clubs feature
Making the top 30 by the skin of their teeth are DC United and Crystal Palace. The two clubs, located on opposite sides of the Atlantic, are separated by a mere £3.6 million. The latter had a campaign to remember this season, winning their first ever major trophy in the form of the FA Cup.
Placing just ahead of the bottom two, £7m ahead of the Eagles is Seattle Sounders, who are just behind Serie A side AS Roma. Austin FC are up now and £18 million ahead of them is Fulham to complete a section that is dominated by clubs in the USA. But while North America continues to innovate and expand its football scene – most notably winning the right to host the 2026 World Cup – their presence in the upper echelons of the financial rankings quickly diminishes from here on in.
The only other Premier League clubs in this bracket are Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa. In recent years, Villa have emerged as a genuine challenger to the traditional ‘big six.’ Despite having lower market values, both clubs continue to grow both on and off the pitch. Villa, under Unai Emery’s guidance, secured a Champions League spot for the first time in over 30 years last term, narrowly missing out this time around.
| The world’s most valuable football clubs (30-21) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Club | Value |
| 21. | Atlanta United | £720m |
| 22. | Aston Villa | £664m |
| 23. | New York City FC | £646m |
| 24. | Brighton & Hove Albion | £635m |
| 25. | Fulham | £609m |
| 26. | Austin FC | £609m |
| 27. | AS Roma | £598m |
| 28. | Seattle Sounders | £590m |
| 29. | Crystal Palace | £583m |
| 30. | DC United | £579m |
20-11
Borussia Dortmund, AC MIlan & West Ham all hold a high ranking
Following the trend of successful U.S. franchise models that have struggled to make a significant impact on the global football landscape, and are often seen as a destination for Europe’s ageing stars, LA Galaxy (£738m), David Beckham-owned Inter Miami (£886m) and LAFC (£923m) rank 20th, 16th, and 15th, respectively, among the world’s most valuable football clubs.
In 17th place, is Inter Milan, who were Champions League finalists this season, only for Paris Saint-Germain to end their long wait for the trophy in a well-documented victory. In 18th place, West Ham sit as the lowest-ranked club to have tasted continental success in recent years, having triumphed in the Europa Conference League by beating Fiorentina back in 2023.
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Just outside the top 10, you’ll find other European giants like AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus. While these clubs have often played second fiddle to the continent’s elite, their financial standing indicates they’re likely to remain major players for the foreseeable future.
| The world’s most valuable football clubs (20-11) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Club | Value |
| 11. | Juventus | £1.58bn |
| 12. | Borussia Dortmund | £1.5bn |
| 13. | Atletico Madrid | £1.25bn |
| 14. | AC Milan | £1.1bn |
| 15. | LAFC | £923m |
| 16. | Inter Miami | £886m |
| 17. | Inter Milan | £849m |
| 18. | West Ham United | £831m |
| 19. | Newcastle United | £812m |
| 20. | LA Galaxy | £738m |
10-1
Barcelona, Manchester United, & Real Madrid rule the roost
The London trio of Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal kick off the top 10. While it’s no surprise that England’s capital is home to a wealth of valuable football clubs, few could have predicted Arsenal would claim the top spot among them considering the other pair’s success in Europe this campaign. With three second-place finishes in a row in the Premier League and shrewd business in the transfer markter, Arsenal rank ahead of their local rivals.
PSG, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City rank just ahead of the London clubs. As dominant league winners, this comes as no surprise, with City securing four straight Premier League titles before Liverpool snatched their crown away this year. However, they aren’t England’s most valuable club – that distinction goes to Manchester United, who rank in second, ahead of Liverpool in fourth. Under FSG’s savvy and steady ownership, the Reds have been praised for their strategic approach, maintaining strong financial stability. The club are set to make huge changes this summer, with the likes of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez coming in for big money. While other top clubs face scrutiny over reckless transfer spending.
Barcelona creep into the top three, but are sternly met by their ultimate adversaries from the Spanish capital. Real Madrid, valued at £4.9 billion, tops the list for the third consecutive year and the eighth time in the past 11 years. The club generated the highest revenue (£833 million) among the top 30 teams, despite a disappointing season that saw them finish trophyless. Since 2014, Real Madrid has won 16 major, including six Champions League trophies, five European Super Cups, and four Club World Cups.
| The world’s most valuable football clubs (10-1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Club | Value |
| 1. | Real Madrid | £4.9bn |
| 2. | Manchester United | £4.8bn |
| 3. | Barcelona | £4.17bn |
| 4. | Liverpool | £3.98bn |
| 5. | Manchester City | £3.91bn |
| 6. | Bayern Munich | £3.7bn |
| 7. | PSG | £3.39bn |
| 8. | Arsenal | £2.4bn |
| 9. | Tottenham | £2.4bn |
| 10. | Chelsea | £2.39bn |
World’s most valuable clubs in pictures
All information courtesy of Forbes and correct as of 02/06/2025
