Europe's big five leagues generate 19.6 billion euros in season post-COVID

Europe's soccer market grew by 16 per cent in the 2022-23 season to 35.3 billion euros ($37.86 billion) due to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions as fans returned to stadiums and the 2022 World Cup, Deloitte said in a study published on Tuesday.

In its Annual Review of Football Finance, Deloitte said the top five leagues - Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A and Ligue 1 - generated 19.6 billion euros in revenue, an increase of 14 per cent.

They also reported an aggregate operating profit (500 million euros) for the first time since 2018-19, the last season before COVID restrictions affected leagues across the continent.

"The 2022 FIFA World Cup, the lifting of final COVID-19 restrictions and the fervour of fans engaging with football has led to strong growth in the European football market in 2022-23," Tim Bridge, lead partner in Deloitte's Sports Business Group, said.

Premier League clubs also saw their revenue surpass six billion pounds ($7.60 billion) for the first time thanks to a 11 per cent growth, with the average revenue exceeding 300 million pounds.

The report said the average wages/revenue ratio fell across all league as the increase in aggregate revenue exceeded the clubs' increased wage costs.

Meanwhile, clubs in England's second-tier Championship saw their revenues grow 10 per cent to 749 million pounds as they exceeded wage costs (706 million pounds) for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.

However, no Championship club generated an operating profit (before player trading) as the league registered operating losses of 316 million pounds.

Championship clubs have spent millions in trying to move up to the Premier League, where promotion leads to a windfall of at least 140 million pounds, rising to