Over the past two decades, an unprecedented influx of money into professional football has changed the landscape of the sport on a global scale. The rapid increase in financial resources and the changing balance of power between clubs and leagues can be attributed to several key factors, particularly the rapid growth of broadcasting contracts and the emergence of billionaire owners and effectively state-run clubs.
The English Premier League in particular has seen an incredible increase in broadcast rights fees over the past two decades, with the amount paid for the league's global media rights increasing from $3.16 billion between 2007 and 2010. , approximately quadrupled from 2022 to $12.85 billion in 2025. period. This influx of broadcasting revenue has provided clubs with previously unimaginable financial resources, allowing them to invest heavily in player transfers, wages and state-of-the-art facilities.
In addition to broadcast deals, the rise of billionaire owners is also playing a pivotal role in reshaping soccer's financial landscape. Wealthy individuals from various industries are seizing the opportunity to buy football clubs, viewing them as lucrative investments with huge growth potential.
Furthermore, the emergence of de facto state-run clubs further intensified the financial arms race in soccer. Clubs like Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, majority-owned by state-backed investment funds in Abu Dhabi and Qatar respectively, have transformed into financial powerhouses with transfer fees and wages that outpace their competitors. This will enable Manchester City to field a star-studded team and compete at the highest level in domestic and European competitions, with Manchester City's treble in 2023 backed by financial and sporting advantages. This is the latest proof of this.
The huge influx of money has undoubtedly brought excitement and spectacle to the world of football, but it has also raised concerns about financial fair play and the widening gap between rich and poor clubs and leagues. Our latest Racing Birds video shows how the world's 'richest' football club's revenues have increased, as well as the financial strength between the league and clubs over the past 25 years. It also tells how the balance has changed.
