By Martin Graham
Supporters of the Premier League’s six richest teams pay an average of £74 per game, according to UEFA’s European Club Funding and Investment Report, as clubs continue to generate increasing sums from home matches.
arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester Unitedi Tottenham reported an average increase of 19% in the earnings of the days in 2025 compared to the previous year. The figures combine revenue from domestic and European games and include general admissions and hospitality sales.
Among English clubs, Arsenal generated the highest return per spectator, averaging £89 per ticket. Liverpool posted the strongest growth, increasing ticket revenue by 27% year-on-year to £120m.
Clubs have pointed to the financial demands of challenging for honours, rising running costs and the need to comply with regulations as reasons for the price hike.
Record revenues but growing losses
The report shows that the 20 Premier League teams produced a combined revenue of £6.5 billion, putting them well ahead of other European competitions. Clubs in the German Bundesliga earned a collective £3.4 billion, while La Liga teams trailed slightly behind that figure. Serie A teams generated £2.55 billion and Ligue 1 clubs £2.2 billion.
Eleven English teams were among the top 25 income earners in Europe. Strong broadcasting deals and commercial income mean that even lower-ranked Premier League clubs outperform the main continental teams in certain areas. Relegated Ipswich Town, for example, won more of the television rights than Barcelona last year.
Despite these totals, profitability remains limited. Only five Premier League clubs made a profit, while 15 made a loss. The league’s combined pre-tax deficit came to £559m.
Chelsea posted a £355m loss, the second biggest ever in European football, while Tottenham posted a £129m deficit. Aston Villa’s £85m deficit ranked fifth among the continent’s biggest losses in 2025.
Supporters express concern about the pricing strategy
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) has criticized 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 prices to safeguard supporters and competitiveness.
In 2024, the FSA launched its ‘Stop Exploiting Loyalty’ campaign, encouraging fans to protest what it sees as excessive pricing. Since then, several clubs have reduced or removed concession discounts and introduced new increases.
Teams with new-build or refurbished stadiums, such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham, have also increased their hospitality allocations. Concannon argues that limiting concessions and prioritizing premium seats hurts longtime fans and alters the stadium’s atmosphere. Although league rules state that the higher-priced seats should help subsidize the cheaper ones, many fans believe the balance is not being struck.
Across the division, total ticket revenue reached £920m last year, up £90m on the previous season and almost double the £514m collected by Spanish clubs. Nine Premier League teams are in Europe’s top 25 for receipts, with the six richest in the top 11.
Rising costs and the sustainability debate
Although Premier League prices are high, some European giants charge more on average per game. Paris St-Germain supporters pay £121, Barcelona fans £101 and Real Madrid supporters £94. However, prices in their domestic leagues are 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 workers, an increase of 8% driven largely by the expansion of the commercial departments of the leading teams. Overall operating costs (including utilities, travel, insurance, marketing and administration) increased by 11% to £1.77bn.
Total wages paid to players across the league stood at £3.1 billion in 2025, unchanged from the previous year. Dan Plumley, senior lecturer in sports finance at Sheffield Hallam University, said that while expenses are rising, player wages and transfer fees still make up the majority of expenses.
He added that clubs continue to chase higher revenues not necessarily to generate profits, but to maximize squad investment, a strategy that risks alienating loyal supporters who feel the financial burden is increasingly being pushed on them.
