Aston Villa's Financial Landscape: Record Revenue Amidst Significant Losses
UEFA's European Club Finance and Investment Landscape report has provided a comprehensive look into Aston Villa's financial performance for the 2025 fiscal year, revealing a complex picture of soaring revenues coupled with substantial operating costs and losses.
Pre-Tax Losses and European Ranking
The report indicates that Aston Villa recorded a pre-tax loss of €97 million (approximately £85 million) during the 2025 financial period. This figure places the club as having the fifth-largest loss in Europe, following only Chelsea, Lyon, Tottenham, and Marseille in this unenviable ranking.
It is important to note that this reported loss does not include a non-recurring profit of €135 million (around £118 million) generated from the sale of assets. This profit primarily stemmed from the transfer of the women's team to V Sports, the club's ownership group led by co-owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris.
Record-Breaking Revenue Streams
Despite the financial shortfall, Aston Villa achieved unprecedented success in revenue generation. The club's total revenue reached a record €441 million (about £386 million), a milestone largely driven by their impressive run in the UEFA Champions League.
Villa's participation in the Champions League, where they advanced to the quarter-finals before being eliminated by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain, yielded a record €84 million in earnings from UEFA competitions alone. This European campaign significantly bolstered the club's financial intake.
Unprecedented Growth Across Key Areas
The financial report highlights record-setting performances in several critical revenue categories for Aston Villa. Gate revenue soared to €73 million, television revenue climbed to €203 million, and commercial revenue reached €81 million, all representing new internal highs for the club.
A particularly notable surge was observed in kits and merchandising revenue, which experienced a dramatic increase from €6 million in the previous year to €26 million in 2025, reflecting growing fan engagement and commercial success.
Escalating Costs and Wage Bill
The financial achievements were accompanied by significant increases in expenditure. Aston Villa's operational costs doubled year-on-year, rising sharply from €73 million to €146 million, indicating substantial investment in club operations and infrastructure.
Furthermore, the wage bill reached a record €309 million, up from €293 million in the previous period, as the club invested heavily in player salaries to maintain and enhance its competitive squad. The report also notes that the cumulative transfer fees for the squad totaled €643 million (approximately £563 million), underscoring the substantial financial backing provided by owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens through NSWE.
This detailed financial analysis from UEFA paints a picture of a club aggressively pursuing success on the European stage, resulting in remarkable revenue growth but also facing the considerable costs associated with competing at the highest level of football.
