Liverpool's income moves past £500M for the Champions League winning campaign
Liverpool's successful Champions League campaign last season is one of the big reasons behind a turnover increase of nearly £80million for 2019.
A new broadcasting deal for the continent's flagship competition helped bolster the accounts as the Reds secured a sixth European Cup with a 2-0 win over Tottenham in Madrid on June 1.
A second-placed Premier League finish also helped boost the Liverpool coffers as the club announced a before-tax profit of £42m on Thursday morning for their most recent financial period.
A record-breaking year at Anfield saw the club post a turnover of £533million in total, with all three revenue streams posting significant growth.
Match revenue is up by £3.5m to £84m, while media in-take grew by £41m to £261m. The commercial side of the operation is also thriving, with £34m earned to finish on a total of £188m for a cut-off date of May 31, 2019.
Figures 2018/19 (2017/18) - Financial year end 31st MayTotal Revenue £533M (£455M)
- Commercial £188M (£154M) +34M
- Media £261M (£220M) + 41M
- Matchday £84M (£81M) + 3M
Wage bill £310m (£263M) 58.1% of turnover (57.8%)
Pre Tax Profit £42M (£125M)
The club signed nine new commercial partnerships in the period.
Media revenue increased not only due to Champions League success but 18/19 was also the first year of the new UEFA TV deal.
Andy Hughes, Liverpool’s chief operating officer“This continued strengthening of the underlying financial sustainability of the club is enabling us to make significant investments both in player recruitment and infrastructure. Being able to reinvest over £220m on players during this financial period is a result of a successful business strategy, particularly the significant uplift in commercial revenues.
“The cost of football, however, does continue to rise in transfers and associated fees but what’s critical for us is the consistency of our financial position, enabling us to live within our means and continue to run a sustainable football club.”
Liverpool have committed £50m to a new training facility in Kirkby, which is due for completion in July. The club also has plans for a £60m expansion of the Anfield Road stand that will raise Anfield’s capacity to 61,000.
“These financial results and this sustained period of solid growth is testament to our ownership, Fenway Sport Group, who continue to support the club’s ambitions and continue to reinvest revenues both in strengthening the playing squad and the club’s infrastructure to build for the future.”