WSL Accounts Reveal Wide Revenue and Wage Gaps Among Clubs

The latest detailed club accounts reveal a wide financial divide within the Women’s Super League, with Arsenal and Chelsea operating at a markedly larger scale than many domestic rivals. The Guardian reviewed figures for the 2024-25 season from eight clubs that published detailed accounts, the most recent campaign for which those figures are available.

Arsenal reported turnover of £21.54 million, up from £15.26 million, and a total wage bill of £11.32 million. The club recorded a £22,000 post-tax profit, while matchday revenue rose to £5.9 million. Chelsea’s turnover increased from £11.50 million to £21.31 million and its wage bill reached £14.52 million, the largest among the clubs listed. Chelsea posted a £17.10 million loss, although the report said £12.08 million of consideration related to its purchase of Kingsmeadow.

Manchester City and Manchester United formed the next tier by turnover. City reported £10.62 million, compared with £6.60 million a year earlier, alongside an £8.49 million wage bill and a £2.83 million loss. United recorded turnover of £10.74 million, wages of £5.88 million and a £397,000 profit, despite declines in its reported broadcasting, matchday and commercial revenue.

Liverpool also finished the accounting period in profit. Its turnover rose to £6.13 million and its wage bill to £3.12 million, while the club reported a £168,000 post-tax profit. The Guardian said Liverpool and Manchester United are the only WSL clubs to have recorded a combined profit across the past eight years.

The figures were more strained elsewhere. Everton’s turnover fell to £2.93 million as its wage bill increased to £2.87 million, producing a £1.28 million loss. Tottenham reported £4.41 million in turnover, £4.30 million in wages and a £2.83 million loss. Brighton’s turnover was £1.34 million against a £5 million wage bill, and its loss widened to £7.29 million. Brighton’s accounts included a commitment from chairman Tony Bloom to maintain financial support through existing loans and additional funding if required.

The comparison is not a complete league-wide table because Aston Villa and West Ham did not publish detailed figures, while the report also treated other clubs separately where disclosures differed. Even with those limits, the published accounts show the scale of the gap: Arsenal and Chelsea each generated more than £21 million in turnover, while Everton, Tottenham and Brighton each remained below £5 million.