Manchester City overtake Barcelona as world richest club
City came in sixth place in the Money League a year ago and are only the fourth club after local rivals United and Spanish giants Real and Barcelona to top Deloitte's ranks
Manchester City have topped Deloitte's list ranking the richest clubs in the world by revenue for the first time in their history after overtaking Barcelona, who have fallen three spots.
The Premier League champions were top of the accountancy firm's Money League for the 2020-21 season with a total annual revenue of £571.1million (€644.9million), just ahead of Real Madrid's £537.7million.
City came in sixth place in the Money League a year ago and are only the fourth club after local rivals United and Spanish giants Real and Barcelona to top Deloitte's ranks.
The meteoric rise from a financial standpoint has followed the transformation of the club's fortunes on the pitch, with City going from long-standing strugglers to English football behemoth following the Abu Dhabi takeover back in 2008.
In the 25 years since the Money League was first introduced following the 1996-97 season, City's revenue has grown from £12.7million to £571.1million.
The Premier League leaders are joined in the top-10 by another five English clubs, with United in fifth place, Liverpool and Chelsea seventh and eighth respectively and Tottenham in 10th place.
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic altered the picture from the previous year, with United and Spurs both losing a spot and Liverpool dropping down two positions.
Of the top-10 clubs, only City, PSG, Chelsea and Juventus recorded an increase in revenue from the previous year.
Barcelona, however, were the biggest loser on the Money League, sliding from first place to fourth - their lowest ranking since 2014 - following a summer in which their well-publicised financial problems forced them to part ways with Leo Messi.
