Annual Review of Football Finance 2026
Welcome to the 2026 Annual Review of Football Finance, the leading independent review of the business of European professional football.
The 35th edition of the publication reviews financial performance during the 2024/25 season, as well as exploring future projections and emerging trends shaping the industry. Having long sat at the helm of an increasingly competitive and evolving market, rightsholders and club owners must now proactively consider the questions – what next, and where do we sit within this future landscape?
Defending from the front
The 2024/25 season was one of transformation and expansion, with both UEFA and FIFA launching refreshed competitions for their flagship men’s club competitions.
These saw more clubs compete for larger prize pots, with distributions for participating clubs bolstering otherwise plateauing broadcast revenues.
These changes underpinned a 6% strengthening of the European football market, which surpassed €40 billion for the first time in 2024/25. The ‘big five’ leagues’ relative contribution to this total remained consistent with the prior season, at 54% (€22 million).
Football cannot rely on more of the same to deliver sustainable growth, though. An increasingly saturated market is not good for players nor fans, and the Game is in danger of prioritising short-term gain over longer-term prosperity.
The complex trajectory of media rights values, coupled with the ongoing shift towards revenue-linked spending regulation, means it is more important than ever that organic growth and innovation is prioritised by rightsholders, whether they be governing bodies, leagues or clubs.
The European football market grew by 6% to surpass €40 billion for the first time in 2024/25, driven by expanded and restructured club competitions.
Click the below for analysis of European professional football across the 'big five' leagues, Football League and Women's Super League.
