One of the brightest spots in the Arsenal Financial Report is the revenue line. The club raked in a club-record £616.6 million over the 12-month period, a staggering leap from the £466.7 million recorded the year before. That’s a 32% increase, a figure that puts Arsenal among the elite in terms of earning power. It’s the kind of growth that reflects a club capitalizing on its return to the big stage—namely, the UEFA Champions League—after a six-year absence. Mikel Arteta’s squad didn’t just show up; they reached the quarterfinals, only to fall 3-2 on aggregate to Bayern Munich.
Arsenal Financial Report suggests something else
More fans through the gates, more high-profile European nights, and even a record-breaking Women’s Super League attendance of 60,160 for a clash against Manchester United in February 2024—all these moments added pounds to the coffers. Arsenal Women playing six games at the Emirates didn’t just boost the bottom line; it signaled a growing commitment to the women’s game, a move that’s as smart commercially as it is morally.
Broadcast revenue also soared, hitting £262.3 million compared to £191.2 million the prior year. The Champions League effect is undeniable here—those lucrative TV deals dwarf what the Europa League offered in previous seasons. Add in £169.3 million in commercial revenue, bolstered by renewed deals like the Emirates sponsorship and naming rights for the Sobha Realty Training Centre, and you’ve got a club firing on all cylinders when it comes to income. The Arsenal Financial Report proudly touts this £616.6 million as a “record level,” and it’s hard to argue with that boast.
Broadcast Revenue
But here’s the rub: Arsenal’s statement alongside the financials laments that “player trading profits continue to have a significant impact on overall profitability,” hampered by “market conditions with reduced overall liquidity.” Translation? Clubs aren’t spending as freely post-pandemic, and UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, along with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), have tightened the market. Arsenal can’t just offload fringe players for big fees anymore; buyers are cautious, and that limits the club’s ability to offset those rising wages with transfer income.
The summer of 2024, not covered in this Arsenal Financial Report, offers a glimpse of progress—selling academy graduates Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham and Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace generated pure profit under PSR rules. But for 2023-24, the £52.4 million, while a step up, wasn’t enough to erase the deficit when paired with £256 million in player purchases. The math doesn’t lie: Arsenal are spending big to build a squad, and the returns aren’t fully materializing yet.
🚨 BREAKING from @sr_collings:
Arsenal’s financial results for year ended 31 May 2024:
Overall loss for year was £17.7M, down from £52.1M. 🔻
Revenue for the year was a RECORD LEVEL of £616.6M. 🤑 pic.twitter.com/aZ0Y5QZdwR
— Le African Gooner (@leafricangooner) February 19, 2025
Compliance and Context: PSR and Beyond
Despite the loss, Arsenal remain in the clear with financial regulations. The Premier League confirmed all 20 clubs complied with PSR for the 2023-24 season, and the Arsenal Financial Report asserts the club’s adherence to both UEFA and Premier League rules. This is no small feat—look at Everton and Nottingham Forest, who’ve faced points deductions for breaches. Arsenal’s £17.7 million loss, while notable, fits within the allowable £105 million deficit over three years under PSR, especially with the £45.5 million pre-tax loss from 2022 dropping off the rolling calculation in 2025.
Analysts estimate Arsenal could even stomach a £97 million loss in 2024-25 and stay compliant, thanks to this revenue surge and smart accounting. That’s a cushion, but it’s not infinite. The Arsenal Financial Report underscores a reliance on player trading and on-field success to keep the books balanced, a tightrope walk that’s becoming the norm in modern football. Football can be difficult sometimes but can be a very good one.
For more sports updates, make sure to follow us on:
Recommended for you