Financial giants in world football: Ranking the most valuable leagues
| Updated: February 13, 2025The January transfer window has closed in most European leagues, with clubs making key moves to strengthen their squads. However, transfer activity remains open in South and North America, Africa, and some Asian leagues, continuing to shape the football landscape. As teams adjust following their mid-season reinforcements, the financial power of domestic leagues remains a crucial factor in shaping the competitive balance. This week Sportingpedia ranks the world’s most valuable football leagues based on the total market worth of their teams. Two key aspects are explored: the overall league value and the average market value of a single team within each competition.
Our findings highlight that 11 football leagues have surpassed the €1 billion threshold in total market valuation, underlining the global economic influence of the sport. The data also shows that the English Premier League, the world’s most valuable league, is worth more than La Liga and Serie A combined.
Methodology: We have gathered data from Transfermarkt for the most valuable leagues from all regions of the world, including the 20 most valuable European leagues, 5 from Asia and Australia, 5 from North and South America, and 4 from Africa, as only four leagues on the continent exceeded the €100 million mark.
- A total of 11 football leagues worldwide have surpassed the €1 billion mark in total market value
- The English Premier League (€11.77 billion) is the most valuable football league, exceeding the combined worth of La Liga (€5.29 billion) and Serie A (€5.07 billion)
- The “Big Five” European leagues—Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga (€4.48 billion), and Ligue 1 (€3.52 billion)—remain the most dominant financially
- Outside Europe, Brazil’s Serie A (€1.63 billion), Major League Soccer (€1.24 billion), and the Saudi Pro League (€1.02 billion) are the only leagues surpassing €1 billion in market value
- The Saudi Pro League is the only Asian league in the €1 billion club, reflecting its significant investment in top-tier players
- Portugal’s Liga Portugal (€1.59 billion), the Netherlands’ Eredivisie (€1.28 billion), and Turkey’s Super Lig (€1.15 billion) also rank among the world’s most valuable leagues
- MLS (€1.24 billion) has a higher total market value than the Saudi Pro League (€1.02 billion), but the Saudi league has a higher average team valuation (€56.67 million vs. €41.33 million)
- South America’s most valuable leagues—Brazil’s Serie A, Argentina’s Primera División (€962 million), and Colombia’s Liga Dimayor (€225 million)—surpass most Asian and African leagues in total valuation
- No African league has crossed the €1 billion threshold, with South Africa’s Betway Premiership (€170.08 million) being the continent’s most valuable competition
Key Takeaways:
Elite Leagues Crossing €1 Billion
Eleven domestic leagues worldwide have surpassed the €1 billion mark in total market value, showcasing the financial strength of elite club football. The English Premier League (€11.77 billion) remains by far the most valuable, exceeding the combined worth of La Liga (€5.29 billion) and Serie A (€5.07 billion).
The “Big Five” European leagues lead the rankings, with the Bundesliga (€4.48 billion) and Ligue 1 (€3.52 billion) completing the top tier. Outside of Europe, only three leagues—Brazil’s Serie A (€1.63 billion), Major League Soccer (€1.24 billion), and the Saudi Pro League (€1.02 billion)—have crossed the €1 billion threshold, highlighting the financial concentration within European football.
Portugal’s Liga Portugal (€1.59 billion), the Netherlands’ Eredivisie (€1.28 billion), and Turkey’s Super Lig (€1.15 billion) also feature among the elite, solidifying their positions as major leagues despite operating outside the traditional “Big Five.”
The financial gap remains stark, with the Premier League alone holding nearly double the valuation of its closest competitor, La Liga. Meanwhile, the Saudi Pro League stands as the only Asian representative in the €1 billion club, driven by unprecedented investment in high-profile transfers.
MLS and the Saudi Pro League in focus
A closer look at Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Saudi Pro League reveals an interesting financial contrast. MLS holds a total market valuation of €1.24 billion, slightly higher than the Saudi Pro League at €1.02 billion. However, the difference in the number of participating teams plays a crucial role in these figures — MLS operates with 30 clubs, while the Saudi Pro League consists of just 18.
When shifting the focus to team valuations, Saudi Pro League clubs average €56.67 million in market worth, whereas MLS teams stand at €41.33 million each. This distinction emphasizes the higher financial backing per club in the Saudi Pro League compared to the broader distribution of resources in MLS.
Outside Europe
Outside of Europe, Brazil’s Serie A, MLS, and the Saudi Pro League are the most valuable, representing South and North America and Asia. Only Africa does not have a league surpassing the €1 billion mark.
Brazil’s Serie A (€1.63 billion) stands as the most valuable league outside of Europe, followed by Major League Soccer (€1.24 billion) and the Saudi Pro League (€1.02 billion). These three leagues lead their respective continents in total market value. While South America’s top leagues — Brazil’s Serie A, Argentina’s Primera División (€962 million), and Colombia’s Liga Dimayor (€225 million) — are financially strong, Asia also has major players such as the Saudi Pro League, UAE Pro League (€370 million), Qatar Stars League (€350 million), and Japan’s J1 League (€294 million), all showing competitive market valuations.
Other leagues in these regions, such as Japan’s J1 League (€294 million), South Korea’s K League 1 (€141 million), Colombia’s Liga Dimayor (€225 million), and South Africa’s Betway Premiership (€170.08 million), maintain competitive financial structures but remain behind the most valuable leagues on their respective continents.