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- Arsenal and Chelsea leapfrog last year’s top-ranked side Barcelona
- Clubs from the US, Australia and Sweden not included in analysis
- Top 15 teams combine for €158m cumulative revenue total
Arsenal are the highest revenue-generating women’s soccer club in the world, with Deloitte estimating their revenue for 2025 to be €25.6 million (US$29.8 million).
The reigning Uefa Women’s Champions League winners, who placed second in last year’s Women’s Money League rankings, moved up a spot after improving their revenues by 43 per cent.
The Gunners’ matchday income of €7 million (US$8.14 million) was more than any of the top 15 teams analysed by Deloitte, with its investment in fan data and the introduction of tiered pricing credited for garnering high attendances regularly.
Arsenal’s total narrowly beat out the earnings of Women’s Super League (WSL) rivals Chelsea, who made €25.4 million (US$29.5 million). The Blues generated the highest commercial revenue among the top 15 clubs at €19.1 million (US$22.2 million).
Meanwhile, Spain’s Barcelona, which topped last year’s rankings, dropped to third place with a revenue total of €22 million (US$25.6 million). The total earnings generated by the top three clubs represented 46 per cent of the revenue earned by the top 15 outfits, with their average income more than trebling the average revenue accrued by the next best 12 teams.
In total, the top 15 revenue-generating women’s clubs reported average annual revenues in excess of €10 million (US$11.6 million) for the first time. Their combined earnings total of €158 million (US$183.7 million) marked an increase of 35 per cent year-over-year (YoY).
Eight of the top 15 teams in the ranking came from the WSL. Deloitte did not include clubs from the US, Australia or Sweden given their revenue totals were not available.
The consultancy noted that commercial revenue continues to be the main source of growth for women’s soccer clubs, making up 72 per cent of the top 15 clubs’ total income. Meanwhile, in spite of falling attendances for some WSL clubs, average matchday revenue grew by 15 per cent YoY to €1.5 million (US$1.74 million) for the 2024/25 campaign.
In terms of broadcast revenue, the average figure fell by six per cent YoY to €1.3 million (US$1.51 million) for the 2024/25 season. However, the 13 teams that appeared in last year’s ranking saw their media earnings improve slightly by three per cent YoY.
“The topline revenue growth across women’s football clubs reflects the ongoing innovation and commercially focussed mindset in some of the games’ leading markets,” said Jennifer Haskel, knowledge and insight lead in the Deloitte Sports Business Group. “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.
“As average revenues reach a new high, there is a meaningful gap forming between the top ranked clubs and the rest of the pack. However, what is clear across the ranking, is that there is no one-size-fits-all blueprint for how to reach and engage fans, or how to deliver on a club’s business objectives.
“Whilst growth has developed significantly in women’s football in recent years, the shift from the start-up phase to the established phase requires consistent time, investment, and effort to develop the foundations in the right manner. As further milestones are hit, including new and expanded competitions on the biggest stages, industry leaders must continue to innovate, while also protecting the wants and needs of fans and players to foster a more sustainable future for the game.”
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