Paris Saint-Germain’s successful defense of the UEFA Champions League title has reportedly earned the French giants approximately €146 million (£127 million/$170 million) in prize money, according to estimates by The Athletic.
Luis Enrique’s squad added another €6.5 million to their coffers after their nerve-wracking penalty shootout win over Arsenal in the final, pushing their Champions League haul close to €146 million. The financial celebrations may not be over yet, as PSG are poised to pocket €4 million for reaching the UEFA Super Cup against Aston Villa in August, with a further €1 million up for grabs if they claim that trophy as well.
Despite finishing runners-up, Arsenal are projected to have earned around €143 million (£125 million/$167 million) from their Champions League campaign — the highest UEFA prize-money return ever recorded by an English club.
This financial windfall arrives at a crucial moment for PSG, as domestic television revenues in France continue to dwindle. Their Ligue 1 triumph brought in far less than their European exploits, highlighting just how vital Champions League riches have become for the club.
Even with the powerful support of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), PSG’s growing UEFA earnings further fortify their position, making it easier to meet Financial Fair Play and other financial sustainability rules.
For Arsenal, the windfall from the Champions League, paired with the riches of their Premier League triumph, is set to propel the club to unprecedented financial heights. The Gunners are on track to shatter records for television and competition revenue among English teams.
Overall, UEFA distributed approximately €2.43 billion in prize money among the 36 clubs that participated in this season’s Champions League, with an additional €30 million shared among teams eliminated during the qualifying play-off stage.
A large slice of the prize pot was reserved for clubs that excelled on the pitch, rewarding those who pushed furthest in the tournament. Arsenal’s flawless run in the league phase guaranteed them one of the biggest performance-based windfalls, while PSG reaped major rewards from UEFA’s “value pillar” system, which factors in club history and the worth of national TV deals.
Every club walked away with a base participation fee of €18.6 million, yet the gulf between the top and bottom earners was striking. PSG’s estimated haul was almost seven times that of the competition’s smallest contenders.
Joining PSG and Arsenal in the Champions League’s financial elite, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid are also thought to have crossed the €100 million threshold in UEFA prize money this season.
Premier League clubs claimed the lion’s share of Champions League riches, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly amassing a combined €591.5 million from this season’s tournament.
Since Qatar Sports Investments took the reins in 2011, PSG have raked in over €1.1 billion from UEFA competitions. Their latest Champions League victory delivers another hefty financial injection while also sealing back-to-back European crowns, alongside yet another Ligue 1 title winning campaign.
Credit: The Athletic
