How market values influence the configuration of the 2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League Group Stage
| Updated: September 21, 2023 
The group-stage of the 3rd edition of the Europa Conference League began on Wednesday. Lille defeated Olimpija Ljubljana 2:0 and today another 15 fixtures are set to take place. In this SportingPedia report, we explore the market valuations of the teams taking part, conducting a thorough examination of the overall market value of each group. Furthermore, we dissect the analysis to evaluate the specific contributions made by each team to the collective worth of their respective groups.
Key Takeaways:
- Aston Villa has the most expensive squad in Europa Conference League, worth over two times more than the 2nd most valuable team
- Only 8 of the 32 teams are worth over €100 million
- Five clubs have a value of below €10 million
- Group E is the most expensive in the tournament and the only one exceeding €500 million in valuation
- The least valuable group is “B” with a combined worth of just €115 million
- Lille and Aston Villa are the only teams enjoying a stake of over 80% of their respective groups
The visual representation emphasizes a clear distinction between the different groups. Two of these groups have a clear favourite, where a single team accounts for more than 80% of the entire pot’s value, while the rest are comparatively more evenly distributed. When we examine the combined market value of each group, it underlines the notable differences, spanning from just above €115 million to almost €725 million in total market valuation.
Groups With The Highest Market Value
Group E undeniably claims the top spot in our rankings. Aston Villa’s market value alone, standing at €597.7 million, exceeds the total market value of all of the other groups. With an estimated total of €724.4 million, group E emerges as the most expensive group in the latest Europa Conference League edition. Unai Emery’s team astonishingly accounts for 82.5% of the pot’s combined valuation. In stark contrast, each of the other three contestants – AZ Alkmaar, Legia Warsaw, and Zrinjski Mostar – has a valuation of below €100 million, with their individual shares ranging from 1.4% to 11% of the combined group worth.
Group F, featuring Fiorentina, Genk, Ferencvaros, and Cukaricki, boasts the second-highest combined market value in the Europa League, totaling €429.55 million. The Italians there, who went on to reach last season’s final match, are at least two times more expensive than their closest rival.
Groups with the Lowest Market Value
Group B, composed of Gent, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Zorya Lugansk, and Breidablik, exhibits a collective valuation of €115.13 million, making it the least expensive group in this edition of the Europa Conference League. Within this group, the Belgian team alone holds an estimated value of €79.65 million, constituting 69.2% of the total worth.
Group C, with a total value of €128.99 million, represents the only other group in the Europa Conference League with a valuation below €200 million. There, Dinamo Zagreb stands as the favorite, claiming a substantial 61.9% share. The Croats are valued at €79.8 million, while the lowest-valued team, Ballkani, is worth almost ten times less at €5.43 million.
The Middle Ground
Group D, featuring Besiktas, Club Brugge, Bodo/Glimt, and Lugano, secures the third position in the rankings. It includes two teams with market values exceeding €100 million. The Turkish club leads the pack, commanding 41.2% of the group’s combined worth. Club Brugge is close with 39.1%, and in general, Group D appears to be the most balanced, with the difference between the teams with the lowest and highest worth being only 33.4%.
Fenerbahce and Ludogorets are the two most valuable squads in Group H which ranks 4th with a total worth of €291.5 million. Fenerbahce is valued at €205.85 million and is more than five times more expensive than its Bulgarian counterpart. Moreover, the Turks hold a stake of 70.6% of the entire group’s value, while Spartak Trnava’s share is as low as 2.9%.
Group G will witness Eintracht Frankfurt, PAOK, Aberdeen, and HJK Helsinki fighting for the top 2 positions. The combined worth of these teams ranks as the 5th highest among all 8 groups. The German side owns a share of 66.7% of the total €255.38 million value. Scottish Aberdeen has a squad more than ten times less expensive than Eintracht but is twice as valuable as HJK Helsinki.
In Group A, Lille will face Slovan Bratislava, Olimpija Ljubljana and KI Klaksvik. The French team enjoys the largest share of a single group among all 32 Europa Conference League contestants. Valued at €207.8 million, Lille boasts an impressive 86.8% of the group’s total worth, a figure more than 70 times higher than that of KI Klaksvik, the lowest-valued team not only in Group A, but the entire competition.