City climb the money league, says Deloitte

Manchester City are hot on the heels of Arsenal and Chelsea in football’s money league, latest figures released yesterday by Deloitte show.

The reigning Premier League champions, owned by Abu Dhabi-based Sheikh Mansour, saw revenues rise by 51% last year as City climbed five places to seventh on the list, just behind Arsenal and Chelsea.

Real Madrid continue to top the league ahead of Barcelona, while Manchester United stay in third ahead of Bayern Munich despite a small fall in revenue last season.

Austin Houlihan of Deloitte, said that City’s growth — thanks to Champions League income and the huge new deal with Etihad — was a significant change to the European football landscape.

Arsenal’s revenue last season was £235m (€279m), only £4m more than City’s, but the Gunners have a bumper new £150m sponsorship deal with Emirates to come on stream, plus an expected new kit deal.

Chelsea’s revenue may well fall this season — as Champions League winners they enjoyed a record high in 2012 but have failed to make the knockout stages this campaign.

Deloitte’s report added: “Chelsea’s feat in becoming the first London club to win the UEFA Champions League allowed it to claim fifth place.

“However, an early exit from the Champions League this year and capacity constraints of their Stamford Bridge home could see them slip down the Money League next year.”

United’s hopes of catching the two Spanish giants at the head of the list appear bleak, even though the Premier League’s huge new broadcasting deal will take effect from August, and despite the change in the exchange rate being in favour of English clubs.

Although Barcelona and Real Madrid have seen revenues increase when calculated in euro, when converted to pounds sterling both have experienced a drop.

Deloitte Money League, revenues in 2011/12: 1 Real Madrid £414.7m (£433m in 2010/11), 2 Barcelona £390.8m (£407m), 3 Man Utd £320.3m (£331.4m), 4 Bayern Munich £298.1m (£290.3m), 5 Chelsea £261m (£228.6m), 6 Arsenal £234.9m (£226.8m), 7 Man City £231.1m (£153.2m), AC Milan £207.9m (£212m), Liverpool £188.7m (183.6m), 10 Juventus £158.1m (£139m).