European return helps Aston Villa climb back into Money League elite
Villa are back in the Deloitte Football Money League top-20 for the first time in 15 years after the club’s return to European football helped boost revenues by nearly £50million.
Income rose to more than £260m in the 2023-24 season, up from £217m the year before, enough to place them 18th on the annual list of the world’s richest clubs.
It is the first time Villa have been in the top-20 since the 2009-10 campaign, having been listed 21st in each of the previous three years.
Under manager Unai Emery, the club enjoyed one of its best seasons in decades on the pitch, achieving the highest Premier League finish since 1996 and reaching the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
It was also one of Villa’s longest-ever campaigns in terms of matches played, with the associated broadcast revenues and prize money from the extra fixtures helping to significantly boost the coffers.
Matchday revenues rose by £15m, while broadcast income went up by nearly £30m. Villa also saw their commercial income boosted by around 6.5m.
The fourth-placed finish in the Premier League also saw them qualify for the Champions League for the first time, which should lead to a further surge of revenues in the current 2024-25 season.
Boosting revenue has become a crucial part of the club’s strategy as it permits them greater spending power under the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules and Uefa’s cost control measures.
President of business operations Chris Heck last year revealed the target of raising income to more than £400m by 2027.
Improved sponsorship deals with Betano and kit supplier Adidas were agreed, though their impact will only be seen in the 2024-25 figures when they are released 12 months from now.
While Villa are back in the global top-20, the latest data has them ranked only the eighth richest Premier League club, still behind West Ham and Newcastle in the pecking order.
Manchester City, with revenues of more than £700m, are the wealthiest English club while Real Madrid top the whole list, with income close to £900m.
Villa Park hosted concerts by P!NK and Bruce Springsteen in 2023 as part of the club's revenue drive, while there are plans to build a new 3,500-capacity indoor venue on the North Stand car park by the end of 2025.
But there has also been some friction with supporters, who have protested against high prices for both Premier League and Champions League matches this season.
Heck described the club reclaiming a place in the Money League top-20 as “a proud moment for Aston Villa and our fans".
He continued: “Earning a place among the most significant revenue-generating clubs in the world is not just a milestone but a reflection of our vision to create a club that competes at the highest level globally.
“We are in the midst of a strategic plan to elevate this English club to a global leader, and these results are a testament to our success so far.
“Every decision we make is strategically designed to make this Club one of the best in the world. We are building something truly special here in Birmingham, and this achievement marks just the beginning of our journey to cement our place in the pantheon of football’s elite.”
