Arsenal Women have surged to the summit of European football finance, being crowned the continent's richest women's team in the latest Deloitte Football Money League rankings for 2026. The landmark report, published on Friday 16 January 2026, reveals the Champions League winners generated a staggering €25.6m (£21.5m) in revenue during the 2024-25 season.
Top Three Dominate European Revenue
Last season's Women's Super League holders, Chelsea, follow closely behind in second place with earnings of €25.4m (£21.3m). This places them just €200,000 behind their London rivals. Meanwhile, former leaders Barcelona Femeni have slipped to third position, recording an income of €22m (£18.5m).
Remarkably, these three elite clubs accounted for almost half of the total revenue generated by the entire top 15 listed by Deloitte. The rankings notably exclude franchises from the United States, such as Kansas City Current and Angel City FC, due to their private financial accounts. Estimates suggest both American clubs likely earned more than any European side in the financial year ending 2025.
Arsenal's Commercial Strategy Pays Dividends
Arsenal's ascent to the top was powered by a remarkable 43% year-on-year increase in income. A key driver was the club's strategic decision to host more fixtures at the 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium, coupled with a more sophisticated approach to ticketing.
The Gunners attracted crowds exceeding 35,000 on five separate occasions last season. By introducing tiered pricing to encourage repeat attendance, they secured by far the highest matchday takings in the women's game, amounting to €7m (£5.9m).
Chelsea, who were valued at approximately £200m following an investment from Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian last year, boasted the highest commercial revenue of any club on the list at €19.1m (£16m).
A Growing Gap in the Women's Game
The collective revenue for the 15 ranked teams reached €158m, representing a significant 35% increase from the previous year and underscoring the rapid commercial growth of women's football.
Jennifer Haskel, Knowledge and Insight Lead at Deloitte's Sports Business Group, commented on the findings. "The topline revenue growth across women’s football clubs reflects the ongoing innovation and commercially focussed mindset in some of the game’s leading markets," she said.
"The women’s game is beginning to carve its own path with new and expanded brand partnerships, new ticketing strategies, and dedication to truly understanding the evolving fanbase."
Haskel also highlighted a developing divide, noting: "As average revenues reach a new high, there is a meaningful gap forming between the top ranked clubs and the rest of the pack." This is evident in the figures, where the top six clubs – completed by Manchester City, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, all earning between €12m and €13m – are pulling away. Their revenue is at least 50% more than seventh-placed Aston Villa.
The full Deloitte Football Money League 2026 top 15 for women's football is as follows:
- Arsenal (Total: €25.6m)
- Chelsea (Total: €25.4m)
- Barcelona (Total: €22.0m)
- Manchester City (Total: €12.9m)
- Manchester United (Total: €12.8m)
- Real Madrid (Total: €12.3m)
- Aston Villa (Total: €8.0m)
- Liverpool (Total: €7.3m)
- Bayern Munich (Total: €7.2m)
- Tottenham Hotspur (Total: €5.2m)
- Eintracht Frankfurt (Total: €4.7m)
- Paris Saint-Germain (Total: €4.6m)
- Everton (Total: €3.5m)
- Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina (Total: €3.0m)
- Inter Milan (Total: €3.0m)
Deloitte's analysis concludes that while on-pitch success remains crucial, clubs that expand and refine their business operations stand to significantly boost their global brand value. This financial growth ultimately creates more funds that can be reinvested into the team, improving the overall quality and appeal of the women's game.
