When Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire founder and CEO of the Ineos chemical group, bought 27.7% of Manchester United in February for an enterprise value of $6.5 billion, it was the richest price ever paid for sports team in which the buyer also got operating rights.
The deal, valued at $500 million more than Forbes estimated the storied English soccer club was worth a year ago, not only paid tribute to Manchester United’s list-leading $187 million in operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and a global fan base of more than 650 million, it also exemplified why 12 of the 30 most valuable soccer teams in the world play in the Premier League. Forbes now values Manchester United at $6.55 billion, second only to Spain’s Real Madrid, which, at $6.6 billion, is the most valuable team in the world for the third consecutive year.
No. 1 $6.6 billion Real Madrid
No. 2 $6.55 billion Manchester United
No. 3 $5.6 billion Barcelona
No. 4 $5.37 billion Liverpool
No. 5 $5.1 billion Manchester City
No. 6 $5 billion Bayern Munich
No. 7 $4.4 billion Paris Saint-Germain
No. 8 $3.2 billion Tottenham Hotspur
No. 9 $3.1 billion Chelsea
No. 10 • $2.6 billion Arsenal