League title success inflates City’s standing in European money list

The reigning Barclays Premier League champions, owned by Abu Dhabi-based Sheikh Mansour, saw revenues rise by 51 per cent 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, senior manager in the sports business group at 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.

“Manchester City’s Premier League title-winning season combined with participation in the UEFA Champions League, helped drive 51 per cent revenue growth to £231.1m, the largest absolute and relative growth of any Money League club,” Houlihan said.

“The club’s progress to the top of the English and European game means that they are set to remain a top-10 Money League club for the foreseeable future, and will look to push on ahead of the two English clubs immediately above them, Arsenal and Chelsea, for a top-five ranking.”

Arsenal’s revenue last season was £235m, only £4m more than City’s, but they have a new £150m sponsorship deal with Emirates to come on stream, plus an expected new kit deal with Nike.

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.

The new Premier League TV deal could see up to half of the 20 clubs on Deloitte’s list hail from England in the years to come, with sides on the fringes such as Everton look set to see their revenues boosted.

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).