Topline
Manchester City defeated Inter Milan 1-0 Saturday, a win that marks the club as the second English team in history to secure the continental treble—winning three trophies from different tournaments in a single season—a rare achievement fueled by elite play, coaching and last but not least, a robust financial standing.
Key Facts
The team’s $4.99 billion valuation comes largely from $1.9 billion in distributions from competitions and $1.8 billion in broadcasting revenue.
Manchester City’s record-breaking striker, Erling Haaland, brought in $52 million in earnings in the last 12 months according to Forbes data, making the 22-year-old No. 32 among the world’s highest-paid athletes.
For the 2021-2022 season, Manchester City brought in $815 million in revenue—the highest of any team in the world.
Manager Pep Guardiola, who has led the team to five premiere league titles, has a reported salary of $25.1 million per year.
Manchester City is owned by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, one of the Middle East’s largest business magnates.
Forbes Valuation
We estimate Manchester City’s value at $4.99 billion, ranking No. 5 in Forbes’ 2023 list of most valuable soccer teams.
Big Number
$175 Million. That is the number of Manchester City’s operating income for the 2021-2022 season—a number that, like its revenue, is higher than any other soccer team in the world.
Key Background
Manchester City’s value has rocketed in the last nine years, moving from $863 million in 2014 to $4.99 billion this year. In the last year alone, the team’s value increased by 18%. The team’s financial standing has been a valuable factor in its success—but that very resource has not come without controversy. Manchester City has received more than 100 charges from the Premier League for allegedly breaching financial fair play rules. The charges date from 2009, just one year after the team was acquired by Sheikh Mansour for $263.9 million, through 2018. The charges were listed by the Premier League early this year following a four-year investigation, which alleged the team had failed to provide accurate financial information related to factors like operating costs, sponsorship revenue and more. The Union of European Football Associations, which manages the Champions League, has also accused Manchester City of failing to comply with its financial fair play policies.
What To Watch For
The investigation into Manchester City’s alleged financial fair play violations could take years to wrap up. If found guilty, the team could face punishments involving point deductions or even ejection from the league—though the likelihood of such punishment is not clear.
World’s Most Valuable Soccer Teams (Forbes)
The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes Age 25 And Under For 2023 (Forbes)
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