Midlands Clubs Secure Impressive Financial Standing in Global Football
The latest Deloitte Football Money League analysis for the 2024-25 season has revealed remarkable financial achievements for two West Midlands football clubs, with both Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers securing positions among the world's thirty highest revenue-generating football organisations.
Aston Villa's Spectacular Revenue Growth
Aston Villa's financial performance demonstrated extraordinary growth during the 2024-25 campaign, largely driven by their return to Champions League football for the first time since the 1982-83 season. The club's impressive European journey saw them progress to the quarter-finals of the competition, while domestically they secured sixth position in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup semi-finals.
This successful season translated into substantial financial gains, with Villa recording a 45% increase in revenue compared to the previous year. The club's total earnings reached €450.2 million, a significant rise from €310.2 million in 2023-24. This achievement places Aston Villa in fourteenth position in the global revenue rankings, representing more than double their 2021 revenue of €207 million.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Solid Financial Performance
Wolverhampton Wanderers maintained their position among football's financial elite, securing twenty-seventh place in the Deloitte Football Money League with revenues of €206.3 million. While this placed them thirteen positions below their Midlands rivals Aston Villa, it reflects a solid financial foundation for a club competing without European football during the season.
Wolves' revenue positioned them ahead of established clubs including Brentford and Marseille, while placing them below several Premier League counterparts such as Everton, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Brighton & Hove Albion. The club's financial performance demonstrates consistent revenue generation despite their tenth-place finish in the Premier League table.
Global Financial Landscape of Football
The Deloitte Football Money League provides comprehensive insight into the financial health of world football, analysing revenue streams from commercial activities, merchandising, sponsorship agreements, and broadcasting rights. The 2024-25 rankings highlight the continued dominance of traditional European powerhouses while showcasing the impressive financial growth of Premier League clubs.
Top Ten Revenue-Generating Clubs 2024-25:
- Real Madrid – €1,161 million
- FC Barcelona – €974.8 million
- Bayern Munich – €860.6 million
- Paris Saint-Germain – €837 million
- Liverpool – €836.1 million
- Manchester City – €829.3 million
- Arsenal – €821.7 million
- Manchester United – €793.1 million
- Tottenham Hotspur – €672.6 million
- Chelsea – €584.1 million
The complete rankings reveal several notable positions for English clubs, with Newcastle United placed seventeenth with €398.4 million, West Ham United twentieth with €276 million, and Brighton & Hove Albion twenty-second with €238.7 million.
Significance for Midlands Football
The financial achievements of both Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers represent significant milestones for football in the West Midlands region. Their inclusion among the world's thirty highest revenue-generating clubs demonstrates the growing financial power of clubs outside traditional football financial centres.
Aston Villa's remarkable revenue growth, particularly their 45% year-on-year increase, highlights the substantial financial benefits of Champions League participation and sustained domestic success. Meanwhile, Wolves' consistent revenue generation showcases the club's solid commercial foundations and ability to compete financially despite the absence of European football.
These financial results provide both clubs with enhanced resources for squad development, infrastructure investment, and commercial expansion, potentially strengthening their competitive positions in both domestic and European competitions in future seasons.
