French and English clubs dominate list of world’s 20 most valuable clubs

Just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the latest valuations from the website ‘Transfermarkt’ have revealed which clubs dominate the market. Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) rise to the top of the world’s most valuable clubs for the first time in its history, whilst Premier League clubs have exerted a striking dominance over the global elite.

Paris Saint-Germain oust giants from the top

The Parisian club has taken the top spot with a market value of €1.37 billion, ahead of second-placed Manchester City at €1.32 billion and Arsenal in third place at €1.25 billion.

This rise reflects the transformation the French club’s sporting project has undergone in recent years, relying on a group of the world’s most promising young talents and the rising market value of several of its stars, which has seen it overtake clubs that used to dominate the top of the table, such as Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Real Madrid came fourth with a value of €1.22 billion, followed by Barcelona in fifth place with €1.17 billion, whilst Chelsea retained sixth place after the value of its squad surpassed the €1 billion mark to reach €1.11 billion.

The Premier League dominates the scene

Although Paris Saint-Germain topped the list, the English Premier League was the biggest winner in the rankings, having made an exceptional showing with 11 clubs in the top 20.

Alongside Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea, the list included Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, a clear indication of the significant economic gap between the English league and its European rivals.

Liverpool ranked eighth with a value of €940 million, whilst Manchester United came ninth with €752 million, ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.

Notable surprises and the decline of some traditional powerhouses

The list was not without surprises, as Nottingham Forest managed to secure 13th place globally with a value of €578 million, ahead of established clubs such as Atlético Madrid and Juventus.

Bournemouth and Crystal Palace also made an unexpected appearance among the world’s top 20 clubs by market value, reflecting the financial boom experienced by English Premier League clubs in recent years.

In contrast, Bayern Munich came in seventh as the highest-ranked German club with a value of €958 million, whilst Inter Milan finished twelfth to top the Italian clubs with a value of €647 million, while Juventus slipped to twentieth place with a value of just €500 million.

With the World Cup fast approaching, these figures confirm that the balance of power in modern football is no longer measured by titles alone, but also by the value of the talent clubs possess and their ability to invest in the future, making the list of clubs with the highest market value a true reflection of the shifts the game is undergoing within the global economy.

List of the 20 most valuable clubs in the world

1. Paris Saint-Germain — €1.37 billion
2. Manchester City — €1.32 billion
3. Arsenal — €1.25 billion
4. Real Madrid — €1.22 billion
5. Barcelona — €1.17 billion
6. Chelsea — €1.11 billion
7. Bayern Munich — €958 million
8. Liverpool — €940 million
9. Manchester United — €752 million
10. Tottenham Hotspur — €700 million
11. Newcastle United — €696 million
12. Inter Milan — €647 million
13. Nottingham Forest — €578 million
14. Atlético Madrid — €577 million
15. Brighton — €567 million
16. Bournemouth — €566 million
17. Crystal Palace — €553 million
18. Aston Villa — €532 million
19. Leipzig — €505 million
20. Juventus — €500 million

Featured image via Getty/Franco Garland