Soccer is not just a sport, it is a huge business. As per Forbes report, the average value of the world’s top soccer teams continues to climb. Teams are getting rich TV and sponsorship deals. Top 20 most valuable teams are worth an average of $1.16 billion, 11 percent more than in 2014.
Here are the top 10 most valuable football clubs as of 2015 .
10) AC Milan – Team value: $775 million
(Revenue: $339 million; Operating income: 54 million)
AC Milan is the second most successful club in the world in terms of international titles. Last year, Emirates renewed its shirt sponsorship deal with this professional Italian football club for an average of $23 million a season over five years.
9) Juventus – Team value: $837 million
(Revenue: $379 million; Operating income: $50 million)
This professional Italian association football club captured its third consecutive domestic league title last year. Its sponsors Goodyear and Fiat extended their contracts last year.
8) Liverpool – Team value: $982 million
(Revenue: $415 million; Operating income: $86 million)
Within the next two years, this Premier League football club plans to add 8,500 seats to the Anfield, thereby increasing the seating capacity to 53,800. Liverpool has won more European trophies than any other English team.
7) Arsenal – Team value: $1.31 billion
(Revenue: $487 million; Operating income: $101 million)
Arsenal are the 2015 FA Cup champions. The club signed a five-year kit deal with Puma kit recently. It will begin with the 2014-15 season and averages $51 million annually. Arsenal is one of the most decorated clubs in English football.
6) Chelsea – Team value: $1.37 billion
(Revenue: $526 million; Operating income: $83 million)
London-based Chelsea plays in the Premier League. The club signed a 10-year, $450 million kit deal with Adidas couple of years ago.
5) Manchester City – Team value: $1.38 billion
(Revenue: $562 million; Operating income: $122 million)
Premier League football club Manchester City’s stadium is the Etihad Stadium. The stadium’s seating capacity will be increased very soon to 55,000. After the work is completed, it will be the third largest stadium in the Premier League.
4) Bayern Munich – Team value: $2.35 billion
(Revenue: $661 million; Operating income: $78 million)
German sports club Bayern Munich club extended its kit deal with Adidas in 2014 for 10 years through 2030 for an average of $986 million annually. Bayern Munich is the most successful club in German football history.
3) Manchester United – Team value: $3.1 billion
(Revenue: $703 million; Operating income: $211 million)
Manchester United plays in the Premier League. The club has won 20 league titles, the most for any English club. It signed $1.1 billion, 10-year dual global sponsorship and licensing deal with Adidas. The deal begins with the 2015-16 season.
2) Barcelona – Team value: $3.16 billion
(Revenue: $265 million; Operating income: $174 million)
This professional football club is looking forward to double the $75 million combined annual average revenue it earns from its shirt and kit agreements in the next three years. Barcelona has the largest social media following in the world among sports teams.
1) Real Madrid – Team value: $3.26 billion
(Revenue: $746 million; Operating income: $170 million)
Professional football club Real Madrid is the most valuable sports team in the world. The team won four trophies in 2014. It was named Best European Club of the Twentieth Century by the IFFHS on 11 May 2010. It leads the current UEFA club rankings. The club’s wage bill to turnover is among the best in Europe. Real Madrid is indeed a major force in Spanish and European football.
