Manchester United have returned to first place in the Deloitte Football Money League for the first time in 13 years, breaking Real Madrid’s 11-year stranglehold on top spot with record revenue.
The Money League has listed the top 20 clubs in the world for revenue in each season since 1996/97.
In the latest edition, with figures relating to 2015/16, the combined revenue for the 20 richest clubs in the world grew 12 per cent to £5.5 billion, a new record.
United top the list with revenue of £463.8 million, the highest ever by a football club in a season in the Money League’s 20-year history.
Real Madrid drop to third place after 11 years at the top of the Money League, despite breaking the £450m barrier for the first time ever. Barcelona rank second with revenue only marginally greater than that of Real Madrid.
United’s resurgence comes as a result of significant growth across all three of the revenue categories (matchday, broadcast and commercial) compared with 2014/15.
The club’s matchday and broadcast revenues were boosted by their return to the Champions League, but it was commercial revenue growth of £71m that has led to United’s ascension to the top position, with the club now boasting over 70 commercial partnerships.
Dan Jones, a partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, comments: “Manchester United’s ability to secure commercial partnerships with value in excess of that achievable by their peers has been the crucial factor in enabling the club to regain their place at the top of the Money League.”
Leicester City, on the back of their extraordinary title-winning campaign, are one of only two new entries in the Money League, along with West Ham. Leicester’s 2015/16 revenue is almost five times that of 2013/14.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham maintain their ranking from last year, while Manchester City climb above Paris Saint-Germain into fifth, their highest ever position.