Manchester City have topped the Deloitte Football Money League for the second year in a row as the world’s highest revenue-generating club in the 2021-22 season in which fans returned to stadiums as COVID-19 restrictions were eased.

Abu Dhabi-owned City generated total revenue of €731 million ($790.65m), followed by Real Madrid (€714m) and Liverpool (€702m). City’s rivals Manchester United generated €689m and Paris Saint-Germain made €654m.

Missing from the top five list again is Barcelona, who have yet to recover from COVID. Barcelona’s revenue of £560m is down €177m from 2018-19 when they collected £737million and were Ranked first by Deloitte.

You can seen here the decline in Barcelona’s financial strength over the past two seasons, compared to the rest of the big clubs in Europe, by the decline in their position in the Deloitte Money League

• 2010-11: Ranked 2nd
• 2011-12: Ranked 2nd
• 2012-13: Ranked 2nd
• 2013-14: Ranked 4th
• 2014-15: Ranked 2nd
• 2015-16: Ranked 2nd
• 2016-17: Ranked 3rd
• 2017-18: Ranked 2nd
• 2018-19: Ranked 1st
• 2019-20: Ranked 1st
• 2020-21: Ranked 4th
• 2021-22: Ranked 7th

For the first time in history, more than half of the world’s 20 richest clubs are from the Premier League. It is the first time a single country has made up more than half the teams in the money league.according to the latest annual Football Money League report.

Tim Bridge, lead partner in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group said:

‘For the first time, Premier League clubs fill the lion’s share of positions in Deloitte’s Football Money League.

‘The question now is whether other leagues can close the gap, likely by driving the value of future international media rights, or if the Premier League will be virtually untouchable, in revenue terms.

‘The Premier League reported a significant increase in its international media rights value during its most recent rights sale process.

‘Meanwhile, La Liga commenced a new domestic broadcast cycle. The league agreed deals with broadcasters for an extended five-year period, and also sold certain rights packages on a non-exclusive basis, and/or operated them directly.

‘It (Premier League) continues to appeal to millions of global followers and its member clubs have a greater revenue advantage over international rivals.’

Three Italian clubs make the cut of the top 20, starting with Juventus in 11th place, earning €400.6m for the 2021-22 season. Behind them are Inter in 14th with €308.4m and Milan in 16th with €264.9m. The Bianconeri and Nerazzurri both suffered decreases compared to previous years, -8% and -7% respectively, whilst the Rossoneri found an increase of +22%.

Deloitte Football Money League 2022

1. Man City – £619.1m (8% increase)
2. Real Madrid – £604.5m (7%)
3. Liverpool – £594.3m (22%)
4. Man United – £583.2m (18%
5. PSG – £554.0m (12%)
6. Bayern Munich – £553.5m (2%)
7. Barcelona 540.5m (5%)
8. Chelsea – 481.3m (10%)
9. Tottenham – £442.8m (23%)
10. Arsenal – £367.1m (13%)
11. Juventus – £339.3m (-12%)
12. Atletico Madrid – £333.6m (13%)
13. Borussia Dortmund – £302.2m (1%
14. Inter Milan – £261.2m (-11%)
15. West Ham – £255.1m (30%)
16. AC Milan – £224.2m (17%)
17. Leicester City – £213.6m (-6%)
18. Leeds – £189.2m (12%)
19. Everton – £181m (-6%)
20. Newcastle – £179.8m (19%)