Manchester City Rated World’s Most Valuable Football Club Brand
Manchester City has been named the most valuable football club brand in the world.
According to the Brand Finance Football 50 2023, City’s brand value has risen 13% to €1.51 billion, a 34% positive rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Premier League champions and FA Cup winners overtaking Real Madrid, whose brand value fell 4% to €1.46 billion, for the top position.
This is the first time an English club has held the number one spot in six years.
City will be looking to add more silverware to its historic season as it competes in the UEFA Champions League Final this weekend.
This season the club has also topped the Deloitte Money League for the second successive year after announcing a record revenue of £613 million and profits of £41.7 million, the latter being more than double the previous club record.
It has also been a strong year for City’s commercial portfolio with a number of new partners and long-term renewals announced across the season. City’s retail operation has also continued to break records with incredible demand for the 2022/23 season kits and the most recent kit launch seeing a new shirt sold every 12 seconds on the first day of sales.
The club has seen huge growth and engagement levels across social media, most notably with City being the most popular European club on YouTube for active users and video views this season.
Looking to the future, Manchester City has submitted a planning application to Manchester City Council for the development of a best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment and leisure destination at the Etihad Stadium.
This project would add a further £300 million to City Football Group’s investment and regeneration work in East Manchester.
Roel de Vries, Chief Operating Officer at City Football Group, said: “Being recognised as the world’s most valuable football club brand reflects the phenomenal growth story that Manchester City has had in recent years.
“This achievement recognises the evolution of not just the brand, but the Club as a whole. The club has been performing consistently and has broken records on and off the pitch this season, whilst operating in a way that promotes financial sustainability.
“As we look to the future, we want to keep investing in the right things – our football talent, the city of Manchester and our local community, infrastructure and fan experience. We have a proven track record of innovation and are excited for the next chapter in this club’s great history.”
Hugo Hensley, Head of Sports Services at Brand Finance, commented: “Manchester City FC has achieved an extraordinary feat by surpassing Real Madrid to become the champion of football club brands.
“For a decade now, the City team has exerted its dominance in English football, including securing four Premier League titles in the past five seasons. However, the club’s performance in this year’s ranking highlights that Manchester City FC are performing off the pitch in terms of building a strong brand and attracting fans and sponsors, and setting the stage for what should be an iconic 2023 Champions League final against Inter Milan.”
Image: Brand Finance/Manchester City
