All six Premier League clubs participating in the Champions League have received significant financial rewards after advancing beyond the league phase of the tournament.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester City secured their spots in the Round of 16, while Newcastle will face Qarabag in the play-offs after failing to finish in the top eight.
Advertisement
The Champions League has a total prize pool of about £3.8 billion, with each club that participates in the group stage earning £16.1 million just for their involvement.
Additionally, clubs earn £1.8 million for each win and £600,000 for every draw. Each position in the standings brings further financial rewards, with the top positions being especially lucrative—meaning that the team finishing 36th earns £240,000, while the first-place team receives £8.6 million.
Teams finishing in the top eight will also benefit from a £1.7 million bonus, while those placed ninth to 16th will receive £870,000. Qualifying for the Round of 16 brings an extra £9.5 million.
Advertisement
On top of these incentives, clubs gain additional income from broadcast rights, thanks to UEFA’s implementation of a “value pillar” that distributes earnings based on league performance.
These financial boosts come amidst increasing economic inequality in football, with 15 Premier League teams ranking in the top 30 of the Deloitte Football Money League table.
Arsenal
Arsenal dominated the league phase, winning all eight of their matches. [Getty Images]
Arsenal finished the league phase at the top without losing a single point.
They earned £16.15 million just for taking part in the league phase. By winning all eight matches, Mikel Arteta’s team accumulated an impressive £14.56 million in win bonuses.
Furthermore, they secured £8.58 million for being the highest-ranked club and an additional £1.7 million bonus for finishing in the top eight.
Arsenal also gained £9.5 million for qualifying for the Round of 16, bringing their total earnings to £50.57 million before considering broadcast revenue.
This financial success set them apart, with Arsenal earning over £33 million more during the league phase compared to the team at the bottom, Kairat.
Liverpool
Liverpool received £16.15 million for their participation in the league stage.
Having won six out of eight matches, the Reds raked in £10.9 million in performance pay.
They also made £8.1 million for their third-place finish and an additional £1.7 million for being in the top eight.
Furthermore, qualifying for the Round of 16 added another £9.5 million.
In total, Liverpool has earned £46.4 million in the Champions League thus far.
Advertisement
Tottenham
Tottenham also earned £16.15 million for participating in the league phase of the Champions League.
With a record of five wins and two draws, Spurs collected an additional £10.4 million in bonuses.
A fourth-place finish in the standings brought them £7.6 million, alongside a further £1.7 million for their top-eight status.
Moreover, qualifying for the Round of 16 secured Tottenham another £9.5 million.
Overall, their total before broadcast revenue stands at £45.45 million.
Chelsea
Chelsea clinched their knockout phase spot with a thrilling 3-2 win at Napoli. [Getty Images]
Chelsea secured their place in the knockout stage with a vital away victory against Napoli that proved financially rewarding for Liam Rosenior.
They earned £16.15 million for participating in the league phase, along with a bonus of £9.75 million for their five victories and one draw.
For finishing sixth, they received £7.39 million, plus an additional top-eight bonus of £1.7 million.
Moreover, qualifying for the Round of 16 awarded Chelsea another £9.5 million.
In total, their earnings amount to £44.56 million prior to considering “value pillar” earnings.
Manchester City
Manchester City were the last of the Premier League clubs to secure their direct qualification to the Round of 16, following Benfica’s thrilling victory over Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola’s squad received £16.15 million for the league phase, plus a win bonus of £9.75 million for their five wins and one draw.
Their eighth-place finish brought in £6.9 million, along with a above-average bonus of £1.7 million for making the top eight.
Additionally, they earned £9.5 million for reaching the Round of 16.
As a result, City’s total prize money from the Champions League totals £44 million.
Newcastle
Newcastle will compete against Qarabag in the knockout phase play-offs. [Getty Images]
Newcastle finished 12th in the league phase, requiring them to reach the Round of 16 via the play-offs.
For their participation, the Magpies received £16.15 million.
They earned a win bonus of £8.58 million for four victories and two draws.
However, their 12th-place finish yielded only £5.96 million, along with a modest £870,000 bonus for failing to place in the top eight—significantly less than their Premier League counterparts.
Having qualified for the play-offs also brought in £870,000, but after defeating Qarabag 9-3 on aggregate, they received £9.5 million for reaching the Round of 16.
Advertisement
Their total earnings at this point are £41.9 million before considering broadcast revenues.
How much prize money can teams earn in the knockout stage?
Further financial opportunities arise for clubs advancing through the knockout rounds.
Reaching the quarter-finals nets an additional £10.8 million.
Semi-finalists earn £12.9 million on top of their existing totals.
Finalists will receive £16 million, while the winners will earn an extra £5.6 million.
This article is part of BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything series.
More questions answered…