Points represent prizes. There’s also money. A lot of money. Only one trophy is awarded at the end of the Premier League season, so the most tangible reward most teams are looking for in the final few weeks of the season is a larger paycheck.
Last season, each Premier League team earned between £175.9 million and £109.7 million for competing in the self-proclaimed Greatest League in the World. These payouts are based on a variety of factors, including league position, the number of matches broadcast on television, and commercial revenue.
The numbers for the 2024-25 season will not be released until after the campaign concludes, but last season gives an idea of what Premier League teams can expect. This breakdown does not take into account club-specific factors like gate receipts, transfers, and sponsorship deals.
The Winners
When Liverpool are confirmed as Premier League champions, money will not be on Arne Slot’s or his players’ minds, but Fenway Sports Group (FSG) could be forgiven for counting their notes. Last season, Manchester City received £56.4 million in pure prize money (known as “merit payments”), so Liverpool can expect a similar payout.
In addition, City received £86.9 million in equal share payments for domestic and international broadcasting rights. Manchester City’s broadcast cash pile was increased by £24.4 million based on the number of matches broadcast in the UK during the season (the Premier League refers to this as “facility fees”).
A £8.2 million share of the league’s central commercial revenue streams increased City’s total payout to £175.9 million, the highest of any team in the division. Winning the title also grants entry into the following season’s Champions League, with qualification worth £15.7 million before the £1.8 million for each League Phase win is taken into account.
The Champions League contingent
Ricky Bobby famously said, “If you’re not first, you’re last.” Unless you finish in the Champions League places (first to fourth, sometimes fifth depending on Uefa’s coefficient rankings) in the Premier League table, in which case you will still be well compensated.
In fact, Arsenal received more in so-called “facility fees” than Manchester City last season: £26.9 million versus £24.4 million. After factoring in prize money, equal share payments, and a cut of the league’s central commercial revenue, the Gunners earned just £0.4 million less (£175.5 million in total) than the champions.
Third-place Liverpool (£25.2 million) also received more in “facility fees” than City, totaling £171 million, while the final Champions League qualifier, Aston Villa, earned £162.4 million from the Premier League. This, of course, is before any European money is factored in; Villa’s Champions League run this season is estimated to be worth £40 million.
These are the kind of riches Nottingham Forest is after. Last season, Nuno Espirito Santo’s team was fighting for relegation, but they have since advanced to Champions League contention. Forest, who earned £123.3 million from a 17th-place finish in 2023-24, stand to earn £40 million to £60 million more if they maintain their top-five position.
The European other guys
Tottenham Hotspur’s fifth-place finish in 2023-24 qualified them for this season’s Europa League and earned them £164.4 million in total Premier League payments, which was more than Aston Villa’s £162.4 million despite Unai Emery’s team reaching the Champions League. Spurs earned £5 million more in “facility fees” as a result of having more games broadcast on domestic TV.
Despite finishing eighth in the Premier League, Manchester United advanced to the Europa League by defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup final. This was worth £3.6 million to the Old Trafford club, but it was insufficient to compensate for the financial shortfall caused by a disappointing league season, with United collecting a total of £156.2 million.
Chelsea, who rallied late under Mauricio Pochettino to finish sixth and join the Conference League, received £159.2 million, while Newcastle United, who finished ahead of Manchester United but missed out on Europe entirely, received £154.7 million. Spurs were fifth, Manchester United were eighth, and the difference in Premier League payments was only £8.4 million.
As it stands, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Fulham, and Brighton are among the eight teams competing for Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League qualification. The difference between a few positions in the table can be significant.
The Middlers
It turns out that mid-table mediocrity is highly valued in the Premier League. Indeed, West Ham’s ninth-place finish last season earned the London Stadium outfit £147.4 million, while Crystal Palace received £139.6 million for finishing in the middle of the table.
Premier League clubs collected between £136.8 million and £130 million, with Brighton in 11th place and Wolves in 14th. In comparison, Real Madrid received only €53.3 million for winning the La Liga title last season, demonstrating the financial might of the Premier League’s mid-tier. This is how a club like Bournemouth (average attendance: 11,000) can pay £40 million for a player like Evanilson.
The presence of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur this season may disrupt the usual mid-table equation, as both have had historically bad seasons. As “big” clubs, they should expect to earn significantly more in “facility fees” than their competitors (Brentford, Palace, Everton, and so on).
The Relegation Fodder
Southampton, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town have had ample time to prepare for the consequences of relegation. However, the financial blow will be mitigated by the fact that they will only be in the Premier League for one season. The trust fund is well-stocked after three years of parachute payments.
Last season, Sheffield United received £109.7 million for finishing last. Burnley took £110.1 million, while Luton Town received £115.4 million. Everton, who finished 15th after flirting with relegation for much of the season, received £20.2 million in “facility fees,” more than any of the six teams above them in the table until Manchester United. Their struggles made for good television.
