The Top 50 Most Valuable Football Clubs in the World in 2024

In football, prices can fluctuate, whether it's the cost of a new home shirt in the club megastore or the valuation of a certain player. However, one thing that typically remains stable is the value of a football club as an entity. But which club holds the title of the highest value in world football? Is it one of the top English clubs, or perhaps one of Spain's giants like Real Madrid or Barcelona?

Using figures compiled by Sportico, the 50 most valuable clubs in the beautiful game have been ranked from 50th to 1st. Sportico calculates a club's revenue stream based on figures published in their annual accounts, breaking revenue down into three categories: broadcast, commercial, and matchday. Let's delve into the numbers.

50-41

Aston Villa 44th, Eintracht Frankfurt 46th

Let's start at number 50, shall we? Major League Soccer duo Houston Dynamo and San Jose Earthquakes kick off the list with respective valuations of £440.10m and £448.10m. They are closely followed by Liga MX's Monterrey (£452.10m) and Brazilian side Flamengo, valued at £456.10m.

Breaking into the list from Europe's top five leagues is 2022/23 Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt, ranked as the 46th-most valuable football club. Their recent triumph likely contributed to their valuation.

Serie A's Atalanta and Bundesliga's RB Leipzig follow closely behind as the 45th and 43rd most valuable clubs, with valuations of £476.11m and £488.11m, respectively. In between these two, we have Aston Villa, who have been performing well under Unai Emery's leadership and were on the brink of securing Champions League football for the next season, valued at £480.11m.

Continuing the list, MLS duo NY Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City mark the conclusion of the first section, each falling on either side of the £500m mark. The former is valued at £492.11m, while the latter's valuation stands at £504.11m.

40-31

Six MLS outfits feature

In this section comprising 10 teams, six of them compete in the MLS. Nashville FC, valued at £508.11m, leads the pack, closely followed by Minnesota United and FC Cincinnati, with their respective valuations differing by a mere £4m.

Next up are Columbus Crew (£520.11m) and Charlotte FC (£524.11m), followed by 35th-ranked Benfica, who clinched their domestic league title last season. The sixth and final MLS representative in this category is Philadelphia Union, boasting a valuation of £548.12m.

The second Italian outfit to feature is Napoli, whose financial status was bolstered following their 33-year wait to be crowned champions last season. Currently valued at £552.12m, the Naples-based side is surpassed by Premier League's Newcastle United.

The Saudi-backed Magpies, whose remarkable return to European contention has garnered attention, are the second team from their league to feature, boasting a healthy valuation of £560.12m. Ranking at 31st, with a valuation of £568.12m, is Guadalajara, valued slightly higher by £6 million.

30-21

AS Roma above Ajax and West Ham

The list of high-valued MLS teams continues with Portland Timber, valued at £572.12m, ranking 30th, followed by DC United (£576.12m) at 29th and Toronto FC (£580.12m) at 28th.

Breaking the streak of MLS teams, the first non-MLS side in this category is West Ham United, based in east London, also valued at £580.12m. West Ham, a regular presence in the Premier League, clinched victory in last season's Europa Conference League, providing a significant boost to their finances.

Eredivisie's Ajax, the Netherlands' most prominent team, is valued slightly higher than West Ham at £592.13m, but falls short of Club America's £600.13m valuation in Liga MX. Roma, Lyon, and MLS duo Seattle Sounders and Austin FC complete this section.

20-11

Inter and AC Milan separated by £110m

Half of the teams in this category compete in the MLS, which may seem surprising at first glance. However, MLS clubs benefit from factors such as cost controls, modern stadiums, and a single-entity structure that encourages ownership collaboration. New York City FC (£672.14m) and LA Galaxy (£800m) lead this section, followed closely by Inter Miami, whose valuation of £820m can largely be attributed to Lionel Messi's arrival.

In the Italian capital, AC Milan and Inter Milan, despite sharing the same city, have differing valuations. On this occasion, AC Milan takes the bragging rights with a valuation of £960m, despite Inter reaching the Champions League semi-finals last season.

According to Sportico's MLS team valuations from January, Los Angeles FC, ranked 15th, is the highest-valued club among those in the United States, with a valuation of £920m. Atletico Madrid (£1.30bn), Borussia Dortmund (£1.31bn), a team that recently reached the final of the 2023/24 Champions League, and Juventus (£1.42bn) complete the trio of European giants rounding off this section, overseeing positions 20 to 11.

10-1

Includes six clubs from the Premier League

Starting with the Premier League trio of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Arsenal, ranked 10th, 9th, and 8th respectively, a clear pattern emerges: the top 10 is largely dominated by English top-flight teams.

In seventh place is the Qatar-owned French outfit Paris Saint-Germain, whose consistent success in Ligue 1 contributes significantly to their revenue. Current Premier League and Champions League titleholders, Manchester City, are valued slightly higher than PSG at £3.80bn and are expected to increase in value as they continue to accumulate silverware.

Leading the Bundesliga in terms of valuation is Bayern Munich, standing at £3.84bn despite not retaining their German champions status this season, placing them 5th on the list.

Liverpool ranks fourth with a valuation of £4.09bn, trailing behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, two of the world's most renowned clubs. Real Madrid takes second place with a value of £4.85bn, while Barcelona secures third place with a valuation of £4.22bn.

Claiming the top spot is Manchester United, 13-time Premier League champions, with a staggering valuation of £4.96bn. Despite recent on-field challenges, Manchester United's strong commercial presence ensures their consistent position at the pinnacle of football's valuation lists.