German soccer’s DFL league organizing body has published its financial report for the 2023-24 season, headlined by strong year-on-year (YoY) growth in turnover generated across its 36 constituent clubs.
A record €5.87 billion ($6.4 billion) was generated across the 36 teams, up 12% on the 2022-23 season’s total, and for the very first time the 18 sides from the second-tier 2. Bundesliga turned over more than €1 billion collectively, due in part to the presence of massively popular and commercially strong sides Hertha Berlin and FC Schalke in the division following their relegations a season prior.
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They both remain in the division in the current 2024-25 campaign means that this trend may continue further into the future.
For the top-flight Bundesliga, which generated €4.8 billion, 32% of that figure (€1.5 billion) was made up of media rights money distributed to clubs, with 21% (€1 billion) each coming from sponsorship revenue, and from player transfers.
By comparison, the league’s revenue mix across the 2022-23 campaign was not markedly different, although there were some minor changes. While media rights money has remained broadly the same at €1.5 billion, its percentage of the overall revenue makeup was 34%, and as such fell YoY.
The most drastic YoY change saw sponsorship revenue drop from 24% down to 21%, while transfer income grew by over €400 million to €617 million – an indicator of the growing influence of soccer’s transfer market on revenue generation for its clubs.
In addition to revenue, which exceeded €5 billion for only the second ever (and second consecutive) season, record high figures were also recorded for in-stadium spectators, club employment numbers, and taxes paid.
In total, the Bundesliga top flight achieved a record profit of €115 million, owing primarily to the gain in transfer revenue, while the 2. Bundesliga made a net loss of €33.1 million, an indicator of the tight financial constraints of second-tier soccer leagues, even for those connected to elite competitions such as the Bundesliga.
Speaking on the figures, the DFL chief executives Marx Lenz and Steffen Merkel stated: “The overall picture of German professional football is one that was also characterized by positive trends over the past season. For the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, all 18 Bundesliga clubs reported positive equity again. The same applies to 14 of the 18 second division clubs.
“In view of the international competitive situation, there are numerous challenges here. The fact that German clubs operate rationally and deliberately limit the potential influence of external investors with the 50+1 rule and corresponding club structures should not be a competitive disadvantage.
“We are therefore called upon to find our own creative ways to achieve sustainable growth – and at the same time to ensure fair and transparent competitive conditions with our partners in European football. These are also dimensions that do not contradict each other, but belong together.”
