We are now approaching the Allianz Arena-based final of the 2024/25 Champions League. The current campaign saw the introduction of a new format to Europe’s most prestigious footballing competition: the traditional group stages that the Champions League was so known for were abandoned in favour of a league table.
This new set-up means that not only were there more teams in the competition, having expanded from 32 to 36, but that they all play eight games instead of six. Though there are still many questions about the new format, particularly as it is still in its infancy, there is a clear benefit for the smaller teams that compete, as it offers them the chance to earn more money on the continent.
With the two finalists now settled after a pulsating round of semi-final ties and Munich, Germany, preparing for the face-off between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain; just how much money have all the teams in the Champions League made from the competition so far?
36th-27th
Including Sparta Prague, Bologna and RB Salzburg
It should be relatively unsurprising that many of the teams that, in comparison to the elite, would be considered minnows, are near the bottom of the incomings list. Slovan Bratislava generated the least money of any team in the competition at just under £19 million. They, alongside Strum Graz and Sparta Prague, are the only teams to have made less than £25 million in the Champions League from the league phase.
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BSC Young Boys and Girona just about creep over that threshold, but remain 1.5 million pounds behind Red Star Belgrade. Bologna just break the £30 million mark, failing to replicate their domestic success from last season, while Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb made just over £34 million in the competition. Shakhtar Donetsk and RB Salzburg earned roughly £1 million and £2 million more than Zagreb respectively, as they round out the bottom 10.
| Top Earners in the Champions League (36-27) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Team | Income |
| 27. | RB Salzburg | £36.55 million |
| 28. | Shakhtar Donetsk | £35.48 million |
| 29. | Dinamo Zagreb | £34.11 million |
| 30. | Bologna | £30.29 million |
| 31. | Red Star Belgrade | £27.50 million |
| 32. | BSC Young Boys | £25.93 million |
| 33. | Girona | £25.7 million |
| 34. | Sparta Prague | £24.48 million |
| 35. | Sturm Graz | £24.07 million |
| 36. | Slovan Bratislava | £18.78 million |
26th-17th
Including Celtic, Brest and AC Milan
VfB Stuttgart and Celtic sit at the bottom of this pile and are followed by Sporting CP, who were beaten by Dortmund in the knockout phase. Micah Richards’ new favourite club, Stade Brestois 29, have endeared themselves to the public and walked away from the competition with £44.52 million.
RB Leipzig, who won just one game from their eight games played, crashed out of the league phase having amassed just three points, yet despite that, they lined their pockets with north of £50 million in prize money.
Above the German side sit AS Monaco, with the former runners-ups making some healthy income from their run, followed by Club Brugge and AC Milan. Dutch giants Feyenoord and PSV both made it out of the league phase and made £55.67m and £56.07m respectively in their campaigns.
| Top Earners in the Champions League (26-17) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 17. | PSV | £56.07 million |
| 18. | Feyenoord | £55.67 million |
| 19. | AC Milan | £52.71 million |
| 20. | Club Brugge | £52.28 million |
| 21. | Monaco | £51.34 million |
| 22. | RB Leipzig | £50.49 million |
| 23. | Stade Brestois 29 | £44.52 million |
| 24. | Sporting Lisbon | £42.07 million |
| 25. | Celtic | £39.7 million |
| 26. | Stuttgart | £36.91 million |
16th-7th
Including Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid
At 16th in the list is Juventus, who just break the £57 million mark with their current earnings from the Champions League. Above them is Atalanta, who rank just behind Benfica. Beyond that, 2023 winners Manchester City fall just outside the top 10 of highest earners, as do Lille and Aston Villa, with the latter impressing on their route to the quarter-finals.
First in the top 10 are Atletico Madrid, who were knocked out by fierce rivals Real Madrid in the last 16. The Spanish side have earned just under £73 million from their ventures, leaving them just behind Bayer Leverkusen, who also departed the competition at the same stage.
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Two other European giants just miss out on the top six as Liverpool and Real Madrid find themselves splitting hairs. The Reds just missed out on a perfect record in the league phase, falling short in a defeat to PSV to stop them from winning all eight games. They were favourites to win the competition before being knocked out by PSG in the last 16. Real Madrid went one round further before being well beaten by Arsenal.
| Top Earners in the Champions League (16-7) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Team | Income |
| 7. | Real Madrid | £87.48 million |
| 8. | Liverpool | £84.30 million |
| 9. | Bayer Leverkusen | £74.83 million |
| 10. | Atletico Madrid | £72.94 million |
| 11. | Aston Villa | £71.89 million |
| 12. | LOSC Lille | £67.63 million |
| 13. | Manchester City | £65.48 million |
| 14. | Benfica | £61.37 million |
| 15. | Atalanta | £57.62 million |
| 16. | Juventus | £57.06 million |
6th-1st
Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, PSG
Narrowly missing out on the top five are Borussia Dortmund. Despite underperforming in the Bundesliga, they made it to the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier cup competition this season before being beaten by Barcelona. They are followed by Bayern Munich, who were defeated at the same stage by Inter Milan.
The top four sides have all made in and around the £100m mark and are made up of the four semi-finalists. In fourth are Barcelona, who were defeated by Inter Milan in memorable fashion. Their pursuit of Champions League glory, having not reigned triumphant since 2015, continues.
Arsenal were mightily impressive on their run to the last four as, in the last 16, they dismantled PSV and then cruised past holders Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. Paris Saint-Germain were a step too far from Mikel Areta’s side but they still banked £99.21 million in their run to the semi-finals.
In second and first are Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, having earned £115.86m and £116.95m respectively. Inter will face PSG for a place in the final as the latter – regarded as one of the biggest clubs to never win the Champions League – look to make history.
| Top Earners in the Champions League (6-1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Team | Income |
| 1. | Paris Saint-Germain | £116.95 million |
| 2. | Inter Milan | £115.86 million |
| 3. | Arsenal | £99.21 million |
| 4. | Barcelona | £98.84 million |
| 5. | Bayern Munich | £90.93 million |
| 6. | Borussia Dortmund | £87.75 million |
All figures per Football Meets Data – correct as of 08/05/2025.
