Bayern leads the UCL prize money rankings so far; Premier League clubs make a profit

February 6 – FC Bayern München became the winner of the biggest prize money in this year’s Champions League league stage, with a payout of €100 million. They are followed by Liverpool (€97 million), Manchester City (€97 million), and Arsenal (€96 million).

Five of the top seven teams are from the Premier League. Barcelona, ​​with €89 million is ranked sixth and Spanish rivals Real Madrid 9th^th with €81 million. Last year’s winners PSG have so far collected €82 million, ranking 8th^th.

The figures are part of an analysis of the financial impact of the 2025/26 league phase by Football Benchmark.

The figures show that the replacement of the traditional group stage with a 36-team league table “does not change the financial hierarchy underlying European football. Elite clubs continue to dominate development and revenues.”

What has changed is the competitive sporting danger posed by the league phase with matches that determine qualifying, the fallout, and knockout round matches that stretch all the way to the final round.

All 36 clubs starting the competition received a guaranteed fee of €18.62 million. Their results and the ‘value pillar’, linked to historical European performance and club coefficients, determine how much they will earn.

“For the biggest clubs, prize money complements diversified revenue models rather than reshaping them. Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, ​​Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City FC and FC Bayern München all recorded ratios below 15%,” the report said.

“In contrast, AS Monaco, Union Saint-Gilloise and Olympiacos each generated prize money equivalent to more than half of their most recent operating income. At this level, Champions League participation becomes a determining component of annual financial performance. At the end of the distribution, European prize money acts as a multiplier. Qarabağ FK and FK Bodø/Glimt have generated total prize money in excess of their most recent annual operating income.”

While the Champions League changes have revived the competition and given clubs more money, it has not leveled the competitive balance between clubs.

“The concentration of Champions League revenues among a small number of clubs in a given domestic league continues to shape the competitive balance. Repeated access to European revenues may widen the financial gap between participants and their domestic counterparts, thereby reinforcing dominance at league level over time,” the analysis concludes.

“This dynamic is most visible in smaller markets but increasingly relevant in the larger leagues, where continued European participation continues to support long-term competitive advantage.”

To view the full report, click here.

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