European football revenue reached €40.2 billion in the 2024-25 season, up from €38 billion the year before [1, 2, 3, 4]. The increase was led largely by the 'Big Five' leagues—Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A, and Ligue 1—which accounted for €21.6 billion of the total revenue [1, 2, 3, 4].
The Premier League remained the highest-earning league, generating £6.8 billion ($9.1 billion), an 8% increase from the previous season, and is projected to surpass £7 billion in 2025-26 [1, 2, 3, 4]. However, the league’s pre-tax losses widened sharply from £135 million to £948 million, attributed to heavy transfer spending and fewer profitable player sales [1, 2, 3, 4]. Meanwhile, England’s second-tier Championship clubs experienced a 2% revenue decline to £942 million, their first downturn since the COVID pandemic [1, 2, 3, 4].
The Bundesliga posted a 12% revenue growth, surpassing €4 billion for the first time [1, 2, 3, 4]. LaLiga earned €4.1 billion, with Real Madrid and Barcelona accounting for 52% of the league’s revenue [1, 2, 3, 4]. Serie A revenues rose modestly by 4% to €3 billion [1, 2, 3, 4]. Conversely, Ligue 1 saw a 15% drop to €2.2 billion, mainly due to a €0.4 billion fall in commercial revenue [1, 2, 3, 4].
Deloitte’s annual review published on July 8, 2025, highlighted that European football revenue is expected to plateau or decline during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons due to market saturation [1, 2]. Tim Bridge, lead partner in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, noted that "the expansion of UEFA and FIFA competitions has delivered financial benefits across Europe’s 'Big Five' leagues, but football cannot rely on simply adding more content to deliver sustainable growth" [1]. He warned that "an increasingly saturated market may not be good for players or fans, particularly if it weakens the on-pitch spectacle," and cautioned that prioritizing short-term gain without collective cooperation among rightsholders "risks... long-term prosperity" [1].
The next European football financial report is expected after the 2025-26 season, which will confirm if the projected revenue plateau or fall materializes [1, 2].
