Premier League Clubs Boost Prize Money in UEFA Champions League

GENEVA — Premier League clubs are seeing increased profits from UEFA Champions League prize money this season, with six English teams making history by participating in the tournament. This is a record number from a single nation, and after the final matches in the opening phase, five teams have advanced directly to the round of 16, finishing in the top eight of the 36-team rankings.

The sixth team, Newcastle, ranked 12th, will participate in the knockout playoff draw scheduled for Friday.

The English clubs are set to collectively earn a minimum of €500 million ($600 million) in prize money from UEFA. The five teams that qualify directly will each receive an additional €2 million ($2.4 million), including Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester City.

“Each team could potentially earn around €100 million ($120 million) or more, especially those reaching the semifinals or the final,” stated Kieran Maguire, a soccer finance expert and co-host of The Price of Football podcast, to The Associated Press.

This financial strength further amplifies England’s influence, as over 20% of the total UEFA prize pool of nearly €2.5 billion ($3 billion) will be distributed to English clubs this season. This significant share has historical implications, as it contributed to the impetus for clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus to propose a Super League five years ago, a venture that faced backlash in England.

Arsenal stands out with an unbeaten record of eight wins in the group stage, while Liverpool and Tottenham secured third and fourth place despite underwhelming performances in their domestic league. Conversely, Newcastle, regarded as the least successful English team in the Champions League, still managed to surpass three Spanish teams and several clubs from Italy and Germany in the standings.

The ongoing prosperity of English clubs could put pressure on the other leagues. With Italy’s leading team, Inter Milan, struggling in 10th place and other clubs like Juventus and Atalanta also performing poorly, there could be an ongoing financial concentration among elite clubs. “This trend leads to a growing disparity in wealth among a select few clubs,” Maguire opined. The Premier League’s massive broadcasting revenues continue to bolster even mid-tier teams, enabling them to compete effectively during transfers.