Manchester United Slides to Lowest Ranking in Football Money League

Manchester United has dropped to its lowest position in the Deloitte Football Money League, with Liverpool emerging as the top-earning English club for the first time. The Red Devils, once considered the model for commercial success in football, have topped the Money League in 10 of its 29 editions, most recently in 2017. However, they have fallen to eighth in the 2026 table, partly due to a decline in broadcast revenue from €258m to €206m following their absence from the Champions League in 2024-25. The club's matchday revenue is also expected to decrease in the current season due to their absence from European competition and limited domestic cup participation. According to Tim Bridge, the Sports Business Group Leader at Deloitte, "The clubs with the biggest football club brands and market position have an opportunity to broaden their reach and offer more to fans on a matchday and non-matchday, and become a more 365-days-a-year touch point." Bridge noted that United are only starting this journey now, with their reported stadium development. He added that the opportunity remains for Manchester United, as they are arguably still the biggest global football club brand, but to maximize this, they require fit-for-purpose facilities. The club is the fourth-placed English team in the 2026 Money League, behind Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal, with Real Madrid topping the list with a record revenue of over €1bn. Liverpool sits fifth after their return to the Champions League and a seven percent increase in commercial revenue from non-matchday events at Anfield. This marks the first time an English team is not in the top four of the Money League, with Real, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain benefiting from their deep runs in the expanded Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup. Deloitte reported that the Club World Cup resulted in a 17 percent average increase in broadcast revenues for the 10 Money League clubs involved. Premier League teams may expect to perform better in the 2027 Money League, which will reflect the new broadcast deal running to 2029, but Bridge emphasized that the best-performing clubs will be those that balance on-field success with off-field diversification. Manchester City's sixth place was their lowest since the Covid-19-impacted season of 2019-20. Nine Premier League clubs made it into the top 20 of the Money League, including Tottenham, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle, and West Ham. The Deloitte Football Money League also profiles 15 of the top revenue-generating women's clubs globally, with Arsenal Women topping the list with revenues of €25.6m, an increase of 43 percent from the previous season. Chelsea Women ranks second, generating the highest commercial revenue among the top 15, while FC Barcelona Femení completes the top three after another successful domestic season. Jennifer Haskel, knowledge and insight lead in the Deloitte Sports Business Group, noted that while growth has developed significantly in women's football, consistent time, investment, and effort are required to develop the foundations for a sustainable future.