Study Highlights PSG's Financial Success Following Neymar Jr.'s Arrival
A Deloitte report released in January states that the club ranks second in the world in commercial revenue
Neymar Jr.’s presence as a player for Paris Saint-Germain has generated results beyond the field for the French club. Currently, PSG is the second-most profitable club in the world in terms of commercial revenue and the fifth-largest in total revenue in world soccer. The consulting firm Deloitte, which conducted an extensive study on the finances of European clubs, attributes much of this growth to the publicity generated by signings such as that of Neymar Jr.
“High-profile signings (Neymar Jr. and Mbappé) have significantly boosted merchandise sales and matchday revenue, with strong interest in replica jerseys and the opportunity to see PSG’s star-studded team play live,” notes the report from the Deloitte Football Money League working group.
It’s worth noting that on the day of Neymar Jr.’s debut in Paris, fans snapped up the entire stock of 10,000 jerseys bearing the player’s name in just six hours. Estimated revenue at the time was 1 million euros.
The revenues analyzed in the study are divided into three categories: commercial, match-day revenue, and broadcast rights. PSG saw a significant increase across all revenue streams, with “impressive” growth in commercial revenue, where the club generated 363.4 million euros in the 2018–2019 season—the second-highest figure in the history of the “Money League.” Broadcasting and matchday revenue totaled 156.6 million euros and 115.9 million euros, respectively.
Neymar Jr. attracts brands
The signing of five new partners, as well as the extension of contracts with six global companies, drove growth in this area. The “new markets” targeted by PSG, such as Asia, are in line with the work NR Sports has been doing with Neymar Jr.
A study by the Chinese consulting firm “Mailman Group” confirms that both are on the right track. The company, which focuses on the digital market, assesses the strength of online soccer properties in China and ranks Neymar Jr. as the second most popular player in the country. It’s no coincidence that PSG held its most recent preseason training camp there.
As a result, the athlete's image has directly contributed to the formation of new partnerships with the club, such as the collaboration with Nike Jordan and the arrival of Replay Jeans—sponsors of the Brazilian player who are now also associated with the French club.
In the case of Nike Jordan, the Deloitte report notes that, “in the soccer industry, the Parisians continue to disrupt the status quo with innovative ideas.” In other words, the club has successfully integrated areas such as soccer and entertainment.
The Nike-Jordan collaboration helped boost merchandise sales, along with the third uniform for the 2018–2019 season. The modern apparel has become a popular streetwear item among the club’s fans.
“It was Neymar Jr.”
In terms of overall revenue, Paris Saint-Germain has grown by 149.7 million euros in recent years. As a result, the club rose from 7th place (486.2 million euros) in the 2016–2017 season rankings (without Neymar Jr.) to 5th place (635.9 million euros)—with Neymar Jr. This was the second-largest increase during the period, trailing only Barcelona, which recorded an increase of 192.5 million euros.
The consulting firm also notes that clubs are increasingly evaluating the commercial potential and benefits that a particular player can bring by boosting revenue and expanding their reach into new markets.
The Power of Social Media
In the report released in January, a photo of Neymar Jr. and his number of Instagram followers are highlighted to illustrate the athlete’s influence on social media. The Brazilian has 131 million followers, compared to PSG’s 26.7 million.
Direct or indirect exposure of brands on personal profiles is also taken into account as a factor in revenue growth. “The number of followers that global stars have can, in some cases, be even greater than that of the club, and their impact can extend beyond just on-field performances,” the report notes.
Overall Performance of Clubs in the “Deloitte Money League”
General Revenue – 2016/2017
Manchester United – 673.3 million euros
Real Madrid – 674.6 million euros
Barcelona – 648.3 million euros
Bayern Munich – 587.8 million euros
Manchester City – 527.7 million euros
Arsenal – 487.6 million euros
Paris Saint-Germain – 486.2 million euros
+ 149.7 million euros (PSG)
Total Revenue – 2018/2019 (Neymar Jr.)
Barcelona – 840.8 million euros
Real Madrid – 757.3 million euros
Manchester United – 711.5 million euros
Bayern Munich – 660.1 million euros
Paris Saint-Germain – 635.9 million euros
Manchester City – 610.6 million euros
Liverpool – 604.7 million euros
Revenue € – 2018/2019 (Neymar Jr.)
Barcelona – 840.8 million euros
Real Madrid – 757.3 million euros
Manchester United – 711.5 million euros
Bayern Munich – 660.1 million euros
Paris Saint-Germain – 635.9 million euros
Manchester City – 610.6 million euros
Liverpool – 604.7 million euros
Revenue Profile by Category (€) – 2018/2019
PSG:
636.4 mi (commercial) – 2nd place in the ranking
156.6 mi (Transmission) – 15th place in the ranking
115.9 mi (Game Day) – 4th place in the rankings
Barcelona:
383.5 mi (commercial) – 1st place in the rankings
298.1 mi (Transmission) – 2nd place in the ranking
159.2 mi (Game Day) – 1st place in the rankings
