Manchester United may have been put on a sale by the Glazers family, but the club still continues to dominate the financial world. The Red Devils sit in the league of the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona who are the ultimate heavyweights of the footballing world, be it sporting wise or in terms of money. Sportico have recently published the list of the Top 10 most valuable Premier League clubs, with United sitting atop of it comfortably.
Sportico have taken into consideration a ‘2-Year Value Change’ in order to evaluate the results. Manchester United top the table, despite going trophy-less for five years. The likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham have also been ranked, however below United despite tasting more success than the Red Devils in recent years.
Manchester United take honors of highest valuation as top 10 revealed
Manchester United definitely know how to run the financial business, if not the sporting. The club hasn’t won the Premier League since 2013, nor a trophy since 2017. Moreover, they have been in shambles since Sir Alex Ferguson left, changing six managers in 9 years, and missing out on the elite European competition, the UEFA Champions League on 5 occasions in that period.
However, they still have emerged as the club with the highest valuation at $5.95bn [£4.8bn]. While a sale of the club has been announced, their valuation shows its going to take an enormous amount for a potential suitor to takeover the club from the Glazers family. The current owners had released a statement last year:
“As we seek to continue building on the club’s history of success, the board has authorised a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives. We will evaluate all options to ensure that we best serve our fans and that Manchester United maximises the significant growth opportunities available to the club today and in the future. Throughout this process we will remain fully focused on serving the best interests of our fans, shareholders and various stakeholders.”
Manchester United are followed by staunch rivals Liverpool on the list, with a valuation of $4.71bn [£3.8bn]. However, the Reds too are in a similar situation as the Red Devils, with their current owners, the FSG putting the club on sale. Liverpool are succeeded by defending league champions Manchester City at $4.43bn [£3.5bn] valuation. It could however be a surprise for many finding City, who have been the biggest spenders backed by their oil-rich Qatari owners, at third rank.
Current league leaders Arsenal make it at fourth with a valuation of $3.6bn [£2.9bn]. Arsenal are owned by American business tycoon Stan Kroenke’s KSE [Kroenke Sports & Entertainment], who also owns NFL side Los Angeles Rams and NBA’s Denver Nuggets amongst other subsidiaries. Chelsea, who recently went an ownership change from Roman Abramovich to American billionaire Todd Boehly led consortium are valued at fifth with $3.47bn [£2.8bn].
Tottenham make up the top-6, with their valuation at $3.19bn [£2.6bn]. West Ham United take the 7th place at $665m [£539m], relegation threatened Everton at 8th with $600m [£486m], Leicester City at 9th with $545m [£442m] and Newcastle United, who saw a stunning 63% rise in their valuation since the most expensive takeover by Saudi Public Investment Fund, round-off the top 10 at 10th with a valuation of $440m [£357m].