UEFA has promised the clubs in the Champions League and other competitions significantly more money than before for the coming season. But there is also more playing.
In a circular from UEFA to its member associations, the European association puts the total income at 4.4 billion euros. This is a significant increase compared to the 3.5 billion euros that UEFA earned between 2021 and 2024. However, there were now hopes for around five billion euros.
The main reason for the increase in revenue is the reform of the European Cup. In the Champions League the number of games will be increased by more than 50 percent, and there are also significantly more games in the other two competitions.
European Cup games competition 2023/24 from 2024/25 Champions League 125 189 Europa League 141 189 Conference League 141 153 Total: 407 531
After deducting UEFA’s costs, money for the qualifying losers, money for clubs not playing in the European Cup and money for the Women’s Champions League, 3.317 billion euros remain for the clubs in the three competitions. And they are distributed like this:
Distribution according to competition Money to: 2023/24 from 2024/25 Clubs Champions League 2,032,000,000 2,467,000,000 Clubs Europa League 465,000,000 565,000,000 Clubs Conference League 235,000,000 285,000,000
The amounts change, especially in the Champions League: the entry fee increases from 15.64 million euros to 18.62 million euros. The bonus regulations during the tournament will be changed. While the point bonus drops, a bonus will be paid depending on placement in the new league system. The maximum amount that could be earned in this way was previously 85.14 million euros, but is now 108.82 million.
There is also money from a revenue column called “market value” by UEFA. This cannot be calculated in advance. The top teams have earned around 50 million euros here in the recent past. The future winners of the Champions League and the other teams will reach even deeper into the three-digit million range in the future. This is what the tournament winners recently received:
UEFA bonuses CL winners Season CL winners Prize money 2022/23 Manchester City 134,936,000 2021/22 Real Madrid 133,709,000 2020/21 Chelsea FC 119,779,000 2019/20 Bayern Munich 125,468,000 2018/19 Liverpool FC 111,099. 000 2017/18 Real Madrid 88,654,000 2016/17 Real Madrid 81,051,000 2015/16 Real Madrid 80,067,000
Money distribution in the European Cup is a driver of inequality
For years, leagues and smaller clubs have criticized the fact that too much money is flowing towards a few big clubs from the big leagues. This increases inequality in the national leagues and also makes them less commercially interesting. This in turn also contributes to greater division. The Association of European Leagues in particular repeatedly voiced this criticism.
The powerful club association ECA approved the formulated system of money distribution in September 2023. “This is a good and correct step in the right direction,” said Jacco Swart, managing director of the European Leagues, in an interview with Sportschau at the time. However, the changes are unlikely to have a major, short-term effect on competition. Another problem: FIFA’s new Club World Cup with 32 teams will soon direct even more money to the biggest clubs.
