Believe it or not, some of the biggest football clubs in the world are listed on the stock exchange. And understandably so. As much as football is an enjoyable sport and widely followed around the world, at the end of the day, football clubs operate like any other business entity. They are there to be profitable and to be accountable to investors and shareholders. Revenue for clubs is generated through many different channels. These include advertising, TV revenue, merchandise and ticket sales, and much more. They are also speculated on by millions of gamblers around the world, putting money on things such as Premier League odds.
And when a football gets to the size of those that we are going to look at today, it’s no surprise that they float themselves on the stock market. Some businesses are worth billions, which is a lot bigger than the majority of businesses around the world, with the exception of certain industries such as technology and banking as of late. And so today we are going to look at four clubs that are on the stock market that you can currently invest in; each of these, if you sign up to a regulated site or through a broker, you can buy shares in today. We will also look at the value and market cap of each of these clubs as it stands in July 2024.
Manchester United
These Premier League behemoths are one of (if not the most) the most successful clubs in the country. Their share price is currently around $16 per share. It reached its peak back in February 2023, when it reached $26 a share, but has been declining since. The club has also seen a gradual decline in its performance as it still looks to find a steady and consistent replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson. Likewise, the value of the club has also been declining, and it has a current market cap of $2.73 billion.
Juventus
This club has long been a big name in Serie A, Italy’s top league. And likewise, they have been a top and constant presence on the stock market for over two decades. They are also the most successful team in the country. Their share price, however, in contrast to Manchester United’s, is very small, standing at just over €2. Its highest was back in 2019, when it was just short of €16 a share. When it comes to the overall value of the club, it was recently evaluated as being worth $0.89 billion.
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund are regarded as one of the best teams in Germany, with a fantastic and loyal following of supporters. They are, in fact, the only club in the country that is on the stock market. Its current share price is similar to that of Juventus, sitting at just over €3 a share. Although they have the smallest market cap on this list, sitting at $0.41 billion, when it comes to the ownership structure of Dortmund, it is quite interesting because there is a management company that runs the club that is wholly owned by the fans.
In Summary
These are the most notable clubs that are currently on the stock exchange. There are also other clubs that are household names, such as Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, who also have shares that you can purchase today. Although, like all investments, there is nothing guaranteed when you invest, These football clubs are also businesses and can be affected by a range of variables outside of their control, such as changes in ownership, changes in the market, and the confidence of their fanbase.