Following his £51 million signing from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund last summer, Norwegian striker, Erling Haaland, effortlessly delivered Manchester City’s record-breaking treble last season.
The 23-year-old Norwegian striker was a revelation in his maiden season in English football, scoring 52 goals in all competitions as Pep Guardiola’s team won the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup.
Man City won the Champions League for the first time in their history in Istanbul, defeating Inter 1-0 thanks to Rodri’s spectacular finish. After already winning the Premier League and FA Cup, the Citizens have become only the second English team to complete a treble.
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He was also named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2022/23 beating stiff competition from teammate Kevin De Bruyne and former Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi.
Haaland’s debut season at the Etihad couldn’t have gone any better as he won the Premier League Football Association Men’s Player of the Year award, defeating the likes of Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
Having won the treble and the Premier League Golden Boot in his debut season, scoring a whopping 36 league goals, the Norwegian goal poacher accomplished everything in England, and his impact in the 2022/23 season propelled Pep Guardiola City side to the top of the 2023 European Elite ranking, with an Enterprise Value (EV) of €4,073million, becoming the most valuable football club in Europe.
Man City beat Real Madrid, which had topped the standings for four consecutive years, according to data from Football Benchmark, due to Haaland’s outstanding performance last season.
The top five positions of the ranking are dominated by the English Premier League teams.
The English team accomplished this milestone after an amazing rise that began with the Abu Dhabi United Group’s acquisition in 2008. The Citizens climbed the ranking, gaining five positions since the 2022 edition, owing principally to the exceptional financial performance recorded in the 2021/22 fiscal year, which had the highest revenue.
The English champions also profited from the lucrative broadcasting arrangements of the English Premier League.
City recently revealed an extension plan for Etihad Stadium, to boost capacity and introduce new facilities to improve fan experience and maximise stadium revenue.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid side are second on the ranking with an EV of €4,006million. Los Blancos were deposed from the EV top spot as a result of a significant increase in running costs, which had a severe impact on the club’s operational profitability.
However, the UEFA prize money from winning the UEFA Champions League and, most importantly, the gain of over €300 million recorded on the agreement with Sixth Street and Legends with the management of the new Santiago Bernabéu have enabled the club to end the 2021/22 season with a net profit.
Furthermore, the considerable rise in money generated by the renovated stadium and the use of its rights is projected to result in significant EV growth.
Another Premier League giant, Manchester United, are third on the European Elite ranking with an EV of €3,932million. The Red Devils’ reported acquisition, with a price tag expected to reach £ 5billion, would establish an unprecedented record in the football business, putting them on par with American NFL and NBA franchises in terms of investment appetite.
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Liverpool are ranked third in the European Elite ranking with an EV of €3,900million. A 28% year-on-year growth in total operational revenues, combined with profitability gains, enabled the Reds, finalists in the UEFA Champions League in 2021/22.
Bayern Munich rounds out the top five, with an EV of €3,838million. The Bavarians showed no signs of weakness, posting a positive net result for the 30th year in a row.
