European football’s governing body, UEFA, announced record revenues of over €5 billion ($5.9 billion) for the 2024-25 financial year, marking a significant milestone despite operating in a non-European Championship year. The total revenue of €5.014 billion represents the highest ever recorded for UEFA in a year without the quadrennial national team tournament, demonstrating the continued financial strength of European club competitions.
The financial report, released yesterday and audited by Deloitte, reveals a €737 million increase year-on-year when excluding revenue generated from the 2024 men’s Euros in Germany – which are accounted for in the 2023-24 financial year. The 2023-24 income, including Euro revenues, reached €6.17 billion. Despite the revenue surge, UEFA reported an overall loss of €46.2 million for the year.
The vast majority of UEFA’s income – approximately €4.4 billion – stemmed from its three men’s club competitions: the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. This represents a €690 million increase compared to the previous year, a boost attributed to the introduction of a new competition format featuring more teams and matches in all three tournaments.
As a direct result of increased revenue, UEFA was able to distribute €3.4 billion to participating clubs, an increase of around €400 million compared to the previous year. The governing body generated €4.06 billion from media rights sales, €787 million from commercial rights exploitation, and €100 million from ticketing and hospitality revenue, though these figures were down year-on-year when accounting for the impact of the 2024 European Championships. Specifically, media rights revenue from the men’s club competitions reached €3.6 billion, up from €3.1 billion the previous year.
New Competition Format Drives Revenue Growth
The significant increase in revenue is largely attributed to the revamped format of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, implemented in the 2024-25 season. The new system features 36 teams in the Champions League league phase, each playing eight matches against different opponents, a departure from the traditional group stage. This expanded format has demonstrably increased engagement and, revenue. UEFA is currently in the process of selling media rights for the next cycle (2027-31) and has already secured deals in the UK, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France.
Revenue from the UEFA Women’s Champions League also saw an increase, reaching €19.3 million, up from €18.9 million the previous season. Combined, UEFA’s club competitions accounted for all but €600 million of the total income generated. The revenue from the 2025 Women’s Euros, hosted in Switzerland, will be reflected in the 2025-26 financial results.
Looking Ahead: Financial Projections and Distributions
UEFA has projected revenues of €5.1 billion for the 2026-27 financial year, the final year of the current men’s club competition broadcast cycle. Of this projected income, 78% will be distributed to teams participating in UEFA’s pan-continental competitions, with an additional €455 million allocated as solidarity payments. Despite the strong revenue performance, UEFA is currently budgeting for a loss of €62 million in the upcoming season.
The financial results underscore the continued commercial appeal of European club football and UEFA’s ability to adapt and innovate in a rapidly evolving sports landscape. The success of the new competition format suggests a positive trajectory for future revenue growth, benefiting clubs and stakeholders across the continent.
What remains to be seen is how the ongoing media rights sales for the 2027-31 cycle will shape the financial future of European club football. The outcome of these negotiations will be crucial in determining the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of UEFA’s competitions.
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