Over the past two decades, European football clubs grossed tens of billions of euros from broadcasting rights, matchday, and sponsorships, with revenues climbing year after year. In the 2024/2025 season alone, Europe’s big five leagues generated an eye-watering €21.2 billion, €800 million more than the previous season, and almost 25% more than the figure reported in 2018/2019, before the Covid-19 slump. But after six straight years of growth, the Big Five years are now heading for their first revenue decline, mainly driven by the alarming situation in French Ligue 1.
According to data presented by Betideas.com, Ligue 1 is facing a massive 30% revenue drop in 2025/2026, the only decline among Europe`s top five leagues.
Ligue 1’s 2025 Financial Freefall Is 10% Deeper Than the Covid-19 Hit
While most major football leagues in Europe are facing a revenue slowdown in the season ahead, only Ligue 1 is going through what may be its worst financial crisis ever. The hit comes after its domestic broadcast deal with DAZN was cut short in 2025 after just one season, leaving the league without a domestic TV partner just as the new season kicks off.
Since most of the money from international rights goes to fixed costs, there’s little left to share with clubs. On top of that, Ligue 1 previously received financial support from CVC Capital Partners, which funded a part of Ligue 1’s commercial operations, but that inflow has also dried up. As a result, French clubs are bracing for a significant financial squeeze and an uncertain year ahead. Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance highlights just how severe the impact could be.
In the 2024/2025 season, Ligue 1 clubs generated €2.4 billion in revenue, already a 4% decline from €2.51 billion reported a season before. But with mounting financial problems in the season ahead, this figure could plunge by as much as 30%, dropping to just €1.7 billion.
Meanwhile, most other major European football leagues will see their revenue grow in 2025/2026. The Premier League is forecasted to generate €8.2 billion in revenue, up 4.5% from a season before. Spanish La Liga will see an even bigger growth, with its revenue rising by 5% to €4.2 billion. According to Deloitte`s projections, German clubs playing in the Bundesliga will cash in around €4 billion this season, 2.5% more than last year, while Italian Serie A will remain flat at €3 billion.
Ligue 1 Downturn Set to End Six-Year Growth Streak in Total Revenue of Europe’s Top Five Leagues
While French football clubs will bear the biggest burden of this situation, Ligue 1’s downturn will outweigh the positive trends in the other Big Five leagues. Since the Covid-19 crash, the Big Five have seen steady revenue growth, but that six-year streak may come to an end this season. With Ligue 1 losing almost 30% of revenue, the combined total for Europe’s Big Five leagues will fall to €21.1 billion in 2025/2026, down from €21.2 billion the year before.