Chelsea finances: How English football's biggest-ever annual loss was recorded
BBC World
February 26, 2026
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Chelsea FC recorded a staggering pre-tax loss of £355 million for the 2024-25 season, marking the highest annual loss ever reported by an English football club. Uefa’s financial figures revealed this significant shortfall, which was driven by several factors including lower revenue streams and increased expenses.
One key issue was Chelsea’s revenue generation, which lagged behind their Premier League rivals like Manchester City and Liverpool. While they generated £511 million in total revenue, their ticket sales ranked ninth in Europe but fell short of Liverpool by £28 million. The capacity of Stamford Bridge, one of the smaller stadiums in the league, limited matchday earnings, with Chelsea earning £1.2 million less per matchday than Liverpool. Additionally, Chelsea’s commercial and merchandising revenues were significantly lower than top clubs, including a £66 million gap to Tottenham and an £82 million deficit compared to Manchester United.
Despite these challenges, Chelsea performed strongly in broadcast revenue, earning £192 million due to their participation and victory in the Fifa Club World Cup. However, their expenses outweighed their income. The
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/26/2026