By Martin Graham
Supporters of the Premier League’s six richest sides are paying an average of £74 per match, according to UEFA’s European club finance and investment landscape report, as clubs continue to generate growing sums from home fixtures.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham recorded an average 19% rise in matchday earnings in 2025 compared with the previous year. The figures combine revenue from domestic and European games and include both general admission and hospitality sales.
Among English clubs, Arsenal generated the highest return per spectator, taking in an average of £89 per ticket. Liverpool posted the sharpest growth, increasing ticket revenue by 27% year on year to reach £120m.
Clubs have pointed to the financial demands of challenging for honours, higher running costs, and the need to comply with regulations as reasons behind price increases.
Record revenues but mounting losses
The report shows the Premier League’s 20 teams produced combined revenues of £6.5bn, placing them far ahead of other European competitions. Germany’s Bundesliga clubs earned £3.4bn collectively, while La Liga sides followed slightly behind that figure. Serie A teams generated £2.55bn, and Ligue 1 clubs brought in £2.2bn.
Eleven English teams featured among Europe’s top 25 revenue generators. Strong broadcasting deals and commercial income mean even lower-ranked Premier League clubs outperform major continental sides in certain areas. Relegated Ipswich Town, for example, earned more from television rights than Barcelona last year.
Despite those totals, profitability remains limited. Only five Premier League clubs reported a profit, while 15 recorded losses. The league’s combined pre-tax deficit reached £559m.
Chelsea posted a £355m loss, the second-largest ever recorded in European football, while Tottenham reported a £129m deficit. Aston Villa’s £85m shortfall ranked fifth among the continent’s biggest losses in 2025.
Supporters voice concern over pricing strategy
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) has criticised the rising costs, arguing that many fans are being forced out of regular attendance. Thomas Concannon, the FSA’s Premier League network manager, has called for a division-wide policy on home ticket pricing to safeguard supporters and competitiveness.
In 2024, the FSA launched its “Stop Exploiting Loyalty” campaign, encouraging fans to protest against what it considers excessive pricing. Since then, several clubs have reduced or removed concession discounts and introduced further increases.
Teams with newly built or redeveloped stadiums — including Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham — have also expanded hospitality allocations. Concannon argues that limiting concessions and prioritising premium seating affects long-standing supporters and alters stadium atmosphere. Although league rules state that the highest-priced seats should help subsidise the cheapest, many fans feel that balance is not being achieved.
Across the division, total ticket revenue reached £920m last year, up £90m on the previous season and almost twice the £514m collected by Spanish clubs. Nine Premier League sides rank among Europe’s top 25 for gate receipts, with the six wealthiest all inside the top 11.
Rising costs and the debate over sustainability
While Premier League prices are high, some European giants charge more on average per match. Paris St-Germain supporters pay £121, Barcelona fans £101, and Real Madrid followers £94. However, pricing across their domestic leagues is generally lower, meaning the typical fan in France or Spain spends less.
Operating expenses have grown. Premier League clubs now employ more than 11,000 full-time staff, an 8% increase driven largely by expanded commercial departments at leading teams. Overall operating costs — including utilities, travel, insurance, marketing, and administration — rose 11% to £1.77bn.
Total wages paid to players across the league stood at £3.1bn in 2025, unchanged from the previous year. Dan Plumley, principal lecturer in sport finance at Sheffield Hallam University, said that although expenses are rising, player salaries and transfer spending still account for most outgoings.
He added that clubs continue to pursue higher income not necessarily to generate profit, but to maximise squad investment — a strategy that risks distancing loyal supporters who feel the financial burden is increasingly placed on them.