U.S. Money Drives Soccer Valuations Higher As American Investors Anchor Record-Breaking Deals Across Top European Teams

European soccer revenues hit $23.7 billion in the 2023 to 2024 season, attracting a wave of U.S. investment, according to CNBC. U.S. investors now hold stakes in most Premier League teams, including four of the Big Six: Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Arsenal. Revenues across Europe’s five biggest soccer leagues totaled €2.5 billion in the 1996 to 1997 season. By 2023 to 2024, that figure had surged 750%. Valuations have soared, with Manchester United valued at £5 billion in a 2024 deal with Jim Ratcliffe, compared to £790 million in 2005 when the Glazers bought the club. M&A activity has surged from €66.7 million in 2018 to nearly €2.2 billion in 2024, with many investors pursuing multi-club ownership models. Deloitte projects soccer revenue growth to slow by 2025 to 2026, pushing clubs to rely more on commercial deals, stadium events, and overseas matches.