Arsenal & Chelsea top women’s money league

Images courtesy of Getty

According to a study by Deloitte, Arsenal generated the most money of any women’s football team in 2025.

With revenues of £21.5 million, an increase of 43% over those of 2024, the 2025 Champions League winners moved from second to first.

Chelsea, the reigning champions of the Treble, also capitalized on a successful year to move into third place, surpassing Barcelona and last year’s leaders Arsenal, with revenue of £21.3 million.

The top 15 clubs made a record sum of £33.2 million overall, up 35.5% over the previous year.

English clubs are the top 15 for the second consecutive year, with eight Women’s Super League clubs in the top 15.

One of the reasons 2025 was a profitable year for the club is the memorable Champions League victory over Barcelona as one of the highlights of the club’s year.

The Gunners have spent the most time understanding their fan base, topping 35, 000 on five separate occasions as the most popular team in the Women’s Super League.

They’ve also implemented tiered pricing to encourage repeat visitors, which means they can get the highest matchday revenue at each of the 15 clubs.

Chelsea, a WSL rival, increased revenue by 90% in 2024, but that’s not the biggest increase. That was primarily driven by generating more than any other side examined in terms of commercial revenue, or £16 million.

Barcelona did not lose that European final, but they did win the same domestic triple.

Jennifer Haskel, the head of Deloitte’s knowledge and insight division, claimed that both creativity and how clubs are meeting the needs of their aspiring fanbases are to blame for the increase in revenue in the women’s game.

With new and expanded brand partnerships, new ticketing strategies, and a commitment to truly understanding the changing fanbase, she said, “the women’s game is beginning to carve its own path.”

Are the bigger clubs expanding faster?

Haskel did observe less impressive growth for the clubs further down the list, despite Deloitte’s figures showing strong growth for the most prosperous clubs.

All eight WSL clubs from last season are still in the top 15, but Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal all saw slower growth in 2025.

In fact, the top three clubs’ revenues alone account for 46% of the total 15, with Everton actually earning less than they did in 2024.

There is a significant gap forming between the top-ranked clubs and the rest of the pack, Haskel said as average revenues reach new highs.

Similar to how 13 of the top 15 clubs from 2024 appear on this list, which demonstrates that the teams are still performing well in order to maintain their position?

Bayern Munich, a powerhouse in Europe, whose revenue increased from £3 million in 2024 to £6 million in 2025, is the list’s biggest earner.

Manchester City, Manchester United, and Paris St-Germain, who were all added to the list this year, were competing in the inaugural World Sevens Football competition last May, which contributed to their success.

Haskel argued that these innovations are essential in the push to expand the women’s game because commercial venture revenues account for nearly three-quarters of the overall growth rate (72%).

She said, “The transition requires consistent time, effort, and investment, from the beginning to the established phase of women’s football.”

Arsenal’s innovation analysis and process

BBC Sport women’s football news reporter Emma Sanders

Arsenal’s increased revenue may have been attributable to their creative and creative approach to increasing attendance.

Arsenal are the most popular club in the WSL and have been a force for some time, with an average attendance of 36, 000 fans at Emirates Stadium this year.

They have been conducting workshops with supporters this season on how to improve matchday experiences, including ideas for the best way to promote the stadium’s music before kick-off, banners and tifos for the ground, and improvements to baby changing room amenities.

Eight Arsenal players, including club-record signing Olivia Smith, and 13 other outside musicians in music and design have been present at 11 of these consultation events so far.

Evidence of the workshops can be seen in a video that was broadcast on the big screen at Emirates as the players leave before games, as well as in the new mural for life supporter Marie Petri, who passed away in 2022.

The club has been aiming for a “grass roots atmosphere,” creating a unique, community-feel match-day experience despite findings from its research that showed there was a 25% overlap in support between the men’s and women’s teams.

Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines
The Women’s Football Weekly podcast returns for another season featuring Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie. On the Women’s Football Weekly feed, you can find interviews and additional content from the Women’s Super League and beyond as well as new episodes that are available every Tuesday on BBC Sounds.

related subjects

  • Football
  • Women’s Super League
  • Women’s Football

More on this story.

Arsenal & Chelsea top women’s money league

Images courtesy of Getty

According to a study by Deloitte, Arsenal generated the most money of any women’s football team in 2025.

With revenues of £21.5 million, an increase of 43% over those of 2024, the 2025 Champions League winners moved from second to first.

Chelsea, the reigning champions of the Treble, also capitalized on a successful year to move into third place, surpassing Barcelona and last year’s leaders Arsenal, with revenue of £21.3 million.

The top 15 clubs made a record sum of £33.2 million overall, up 35.5% over the previous year.

English clubs are the top 15 for the second consecutive year, with eight Women’s Super League clubs in the top 15.

One of the reasons 2025 was a profitable year for the club is the memorable Champions League victory over Barcelona as one of the highlights of the club’s year.

The Gunners have spent the most time understanding their fan base, topping 35, 000 on five separate occasions as the most popular team in the Women’s Super League.

They’ve also implemented tiered pricing to encourage repeat visitors, which means they can get the highest matchday revenue at each of the 15 clubs.

Chelsea, a WSL rival, increased revenue by 90% in 2024, but that’s not the biggest increase. That was primarily driven by generating more than any other side examined in terms of commercial revenue, or £16 million.

Barcelona did not lose that European final, but they did win the same domestic triple.

Jennifer Haskel, the head of Deloitte’s knowledge and insight division, claimed that both creativity and how clubs are meeting the needs of their aspiring fanbases are to blame for the increase in revenue in the women’s game.

With new and expanded brand partnerships, new ticketing strategies, and a commitment to truly understanding the changing fanbase, she said, “the women’s game is beginning to carve its own path.”

Are the bigger clubs expanding faster?

Haskel did observe less impressive growth for the clubs further down the list, despite Deloitte’s figures showing strong growth for the most prosperous clubs.

All eight WSL clubs from last season are still in the top 15, but Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal all saw slower growth in 2025.

In fact, the top three clubs’ revenues alone account for 46% of the total 15, with Everton actually earning less than they did in 2024.

There is a significant gap forming between the top-ranked clubs and the rest of the pack, Haskel said as average revenues reach new highs.

Similar to how 13 of the top 15 clubs from 2024 appear on this list, which demonstrates that the teams are still performing well in order to maintain their position?

Bayern Munich, a powerhouse in Europe, whose revenue increased from £3 million in 2024 to £6 million in 2025, is the list’s biggest earner.

Manchester City, Manchester United, and Paris St-Germain, who were all added to the list this year, were competing in the inaugural World Sevens Football competition last May, which contributed to their success.

Haskel argued that these innovations are essential in the push to expand the women’s game because commercial venture revenues account for nearly three-quarters of the overall growth rate (72%).

She said, “The transition requires consistent time, effort, and investment, from the beginning to the established phase of women’s football.”

Arsenal’s innovation analysis and process

BBC Sport women’s football news reporter Emma Sanders

Arsenal’s increased revenue may have been attributable to their creative and creative approach to increasing attendance.

Arsenal are the most popular club in the WSL and have been a force for some time, with an average attendance of 36, 000 fans at Emirates Stadium this year.

They have been conducting workshops with supporters this season on how to improve matchday experiences, including ideas for the best way to promote the stadium’s music before kick-off, banners and tifos for the ground, and improvements to baby changing room amenities.

Eight Arsenal players, including club-record signing Olivia Smith, and 13 other outside musicians in music and design have been present at 11 of these consultation events so far.

Evidence of the workshops can be seen in a video that was broadcast on the big screen at Emirates as the players leave before games, as well as in the new mural for life supporter Marie Petri, who passed away in 2022.

The club has been aiming for a “grass roots atmosphere,” creating a unique, community-feel match-day experience despite findings from its research that showed there was a 25% overlap in support between the men’s and women’s teams.

Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines
The Women’s Football Weekly podcast returns for another season featuring Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie. On the Women’s Football Weekly feed, you can find interviews and additional content from the Women’s Super League and beyond as well as new episodes that are available every Tuesday on BBC Sounds.

related subjects

  • Football
  • Women’s Super League
  • Women’s Football

More on this story.

Arsenal & Chelsea top women’s money league

Getty Images

Arsenal generated the most revenue of any women’s football club in 2025, according to analysis by Deloitte.

The 2025 Champions League winners moved from second to first with revenue of £21.5m – an increase of 43% on 2024.

Treble winners Chelsea also cashed in on a successful year to be placed just behind Arsenal with revenue of £21.3m, and pushing last year’s leaders Barcelona into third.

In total, the top 15 clubs generated a record £132.8m – up 35.5% on the previous 12 months.

English clubs dominate for a second consecutive year, with eight Women’s Super League sides in the top 15.

Arsenal’s memorable win over Barcelona in the Champions League final is only one of the reasons 2025 was a profitable year for the club.

The Gunners have invested in understanding their fanbase and were the most well-attended team in the Women’s Super League – topping 35,000 on five separate occasions.

They have also introduced tiered pricing to encourage repeat attendance – helping them achieve the highest matchday revenue across all 15 clubs.

WSL rivals Chelsea had the biggest increase in revenue, though – up 90% on 2024. That was powered mostly by generating £16m in commercial revenue alone – more than any other side analysed.

Similarly, while Barcelona did lose that European final, they still completed a domestic treble in Spain.

Deloitte’s knowledge and insight lead, Jennifer Haskel, said the increasing revenue in the women’s game was down to both creativity and how clubs are meeting the needs of their emerging fanbases.

“The women’s game is beginning to carve its own path with new and expanded brand partnerships, new ticketing strategies, and dedication to truly understanding the evolving fanbase,” she said.

Are the bigger clubs getting bigger?

While Deloitte’s figures show strong numbers for the most successful clubs, Haskel did note less impressive growth for the clubs lower down the list.

The eight WSL clubs from last season remain in the top 15, but all bar Manchester City experienced slower growth than both Arsenal and Chelsea in 2025.

Indeed, the revenue produced by the top three clubs alone make up 46% of the entire 15, with Everton actually making less than they managed in 2024.

“As average revenues reach a new high, there is a meaningful gap forming between the top ranked clubs and the rest of the pack,” Haskel said.

Similarly, while the fact 13 of the top 15 clubs from 2024 feature in this list demonstrates the teams are performing well to maintain their position, could it also hint at a lack of competition beyond those at the pinnacle of the women’s game?

The biggest riser in the list is European powerhouse Bayern Munich, whose revenue doubled from £3m in 2024 to £6m in 2025.

Part of their success can be attributed to winning the inaugural World Sevens Football tournament last May, where they competed alongside Manchester City, Manchester United and Paris St-Germain – a new inclusion on this year’s list.

Haskel said such tournaments are vital innovations in the push to further grow the women’s game as revenues from commercial ventures make up almost three quarters of all growth figures (72%).

“The shift from start-up phase to established phase in women’s football requires consistent time, investment and effort,” she said.

Arsenal’s innovation process – analysis

Emma Sanders, BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Arsenal’s revenue increase has been in some part down to their creativity and innovation to grow attendances.

With an average attendance of 36,000 at Emirates Stadium this season, Arsenal are the best supported club in the WSL and have led the way for some time.

This season they have been carrying out workshops with supporters on how to improve matchday experiences, discussing a range of things such as the music playlist before kick-off, banners and tifos for the ground and improvements to baby changing room facilities.

So far, 11 of these consultation events have taken place with eight Arsenal players attending them, including club-record signing Olivia Smith, plus 13 external artists in music and design.

Evidence of the workshops was in the new mural created for lifetime supporter Marie Petri, who died at the age of 83 in 2022, and in a video shown on the big screen at the Emirates as the players walk out before games.

Research from the club showed that there was an overlap of support between the men’s and women’s teams of 25% but they have been targeting a ‘grassroots atmosphere’, hoping to provide a unique, community-feel match-day experience.

Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines

Related topics

  • Football
  • Women’s Super League
  • Women’s Football

More on this story

Arsenal & Chelsea overtake Barcelona in women’s money league

Images courtesy of Getty

According to a study by Deloitte, Arsenal generated the most money of any women’s football team in 2025.

With revenues of £21.5 million, an increase of 43% over those of 2024, the 2025 Champions League winners moved from second to first.

Chelsea, the reigning champions of the Treble, also capitalized on a successful year to move into third place, surpassing Barcelona and last year’s leaders Arsenal, with revenue of £21.3 million.

The top 15 clubs made a record sum of £33.2 million overall, up 35.5% over the previous year.

English clubs are the top 15 for the second consecutive year, with eight Women’s Super League clubs in the top 15.

One of the reasons 2025 was a profitable year for the club is the memorable Champions League victory over Barcelona as one of the highlights of the club’s year.

The Gunners have spent the most time understanding their fan base, topping 35, 000 on five separate occasions as the most popular team in the Women’s Super League.

They’ve also implemented tiered pricing to encourage repeat visitors, which means they can get the highest matchday revenue at each of the 15 clubs.

Chelsea, a WSL rival, increased revenue by 90% in 2024, but that’s not the biggest increase. That was primarily driven by generating more than any other side examined in terms of commercial revenue, or £16 million.

Barcelona did not lose that European final, but they did win the same domestic triple.

Jennifer Haskel, the head of Deloitte’s knowledge and insight division, claimed that both creativity and how clubs are meeting the needs of their aspiring fanbases are to blame for the increase in revenue in the women’s game.

With new and expanded brand partnerships, new ticketing strategies, and a commitment to truly understanding the changing fanbase, she said, “the women’s game is beginning to carve its own path.”

Are the bigger clubs expanding faster?

Haskel did observe less impressive growth for the clubs further down the list, despite Deloitte’s figures showing strong growth for the most prosperous clubs.

All eight WSL clubs from last season are still in the top 15, but Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal all saw slower growth in 2025.

In fact, the top three clubs’ revenues alone account for 46% of the total 15, with Everton actually earning less than they did in 2024.

There is a significant gap forming between the top-ranked clubs and the rest of the pack, Haskel said as average revenues reach new highs.

Similar to how 13 of the top 15 clubs from 2024 appear on this list, which demonstrates that the teams are still performing well in order to maintain their position?

Bayern Munich, a powerhouse in Europe, whose revenue increased from £3 million in 2024 to £6 million in 2025, is the list’s biggest earner.

Manchester City, Manchester United, and Paris St-Germain, who were all added to the list this year, were competing in the inaugural World Sevens Football competition last May, which contributed to their success.

Haskel argued that these innovations are essential in the push to expand the women’s game because commercial venture revenues account for nearly three-quarters of the overall growth rate (72%).

She said, “The transition requires consistent time, effort, and investment, from the beginning to the established phase of women’s football.”

Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines
The Women’s Football Weekly podcast returns for another season featuring Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie. On the Women’s Football Weekly feed, you can find interviews and additional content from the Women’s Super League and beyond as well as new episodes that are available every Tuesday on BBC Sounds.

related subjects

  • Football
  • Women’s Super League
  • Women’s Football

More on this story.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,425

On Monday, January 19, 2018, this is how things are going.

Fighting

  • In the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, Governor Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram on Sunday that three people were killed by Russian attacks, including a 20-year-old woman, and 11 others were injured.
  • As Russian forces launched attacks using drones, air strikes, and shelling in the Kherson region of Ukraine, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Telegram on Sunday that two people had died and one had been hurt.
  • According to local officials, five people were hurt in Sumy and six were hurt in the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk, according to the Kyiv Independent.
  • According to Moscow-installed Governor Yevgeny Balitsky, a drone strike on the border village of Nechaivka in the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia region claimed one fatality and one injured.
  • In the Belgorod region of Russia, a woman was killed and a man was hurt in a Ukrainian attack, according to the regional task force’s Telegram report.
  • According to Russian TASS state news agency, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that it shot down 140 Ukrainian drones in a 24-hour period.

Energy crisis

  • According to Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, “crucial repair works” have begun on a “essential backup line” connecting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine to the grid, “under another IAEA-brokered ceasefire.”
  • Grossi stated on X that “an IAEA team is monitoring the progress while a Ukrainian team is doing the repairs.”
  • Homes in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine were left without electricity as a result of Russian shelling, according to the regional electricity distribution company’s statement on Telegram.
  • After a Ukrainian drone strike on Saturday, more than 200 000 people in the Russian-occupied region of Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region were left without electricity, according to Balitsky on Telegram.

diplomacy and politics

  • Rustem Umerov, the chief Ukrainian negotiator, stated that in addition to “deliberate” discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian representatives had met in Miami, Florida, over the weekend, with an emphasis on “practical mechanisms for their implementation.”
  • According to Umerov, the US negotiators who were present included Josh Gruenbaum, White House staffer Josh Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Stephen Witkoff.
  • As Trump continues to threaten the self-governing Danish territory and NATO member, Kremlin investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev hailed US President Donald Trump’s imposing 10% tariffs on European nations for sending troops to defend Greenland. In a stream of posts, Dmitriev specifically criticized European leaders, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, before adding that “Transatlantic unity is over”.
  • In her own post on X, Kallas claimed that Russia and China “are the ones who benefit from divisions among Allies.” She added that it was crucial to keep our main objective from helping Russia end its war with Ukraine in mind.
  • In an interview with the La Vanguardia newspaper on Sunday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez claimed that a US invasion of Greenland “would make]Russian President Vladimir Putin the happiest man on earth” because it “legitimizes his attempted invasion of Ukraine.”