Commercial revenue has become the primary driver of growth for Europe’s wealthiest football clubs.

Commercial revenues have become the most important source of operating income for Europe’s wealthiest football clubs, according to the specialised economics and sports platform. This shift has widened the financial gap between top clubs and their competitors, even as the industry as a whole continues to grow.

A study by consulting firm Football Benchmark and the World Football Summit, reported by Reuters on 22 October 2026, found that commercial revenues and other non-media sources accounted for 49% of the operating income of Europe’s top 10 clubs in the 2024–2025 season. This figure was around 32% in the 2008–2009 season.

In contrast, the share of broadcasting rights and UEFA distributions fell from 42% to 32%, while the share of stadium and match-day revenue fell from 27% to 19%. These changes do not mean that the amount received from broadcasting or tickets has definitively decreased; rather, the share of these sources in the total revenue of big clubs has decreased.

According to the same report, the total revenue of Europe’s top 700 clubs exceeded 30 billion euros in the 2024–2025 season. However, a large portion of financial power remains concentrated in the hands of a limited number of clubs, with English Premier League clubs holding a significant share of first-tier European football revenue.

From a sports economics perspective, this trend increases the importance of branding, sponsorship contracts, merchandise sales, international market development, and direct communication with fans. A club that can turn its audience in different markets into loyal customers will have greater potential to generate revenue independent of match-day results.

However, growth in commercial revenue does not necessarily mean profitability. Wage costs, operating expenses, and player investments can absorb a large portion of revenue. Therefore, comparing revenue alone is not enough to assess a club’s financial health.

For Iranian clubs, the key lesson is to create sellable commercial assets: data-driven fan identification, licensed products, fan membership, performance-based sponsorship, and digital content. These resources can reduce dependence on owners or non-commercial budgets, provided that a real revenue model is designed for them.

Source: Reuters; Commercial income and the widening financial gap between European clubs – 22 October 2026.

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