Champions League: Austria's clubs collect millions!

Champions League: Austria's clubs collect millions!

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season culminated on June 3, 2025, when Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won the title, winning the Champions League for the first time. This was a historic moment for the club, who beat Inter Milan with a resounding victory in the final. This season also marked the beginning of a new mode with a league phase instead of the traditional group phases, which increased the number of participants to 36 and thus also increased the number of games, which further spread the league to generate additional revenue.

In total, a total prize fund of €2.467 billion was made available for the 2024/25 Champions League, a significant increase compared to €2.002 billion last year. The prize fund was made up of various categories, including performance-based prize money and a value pillar based on club coefficients and media rights. With this new system, the participating clubs earned money based on their success.

Austrian clubs in the European Cup

This season, four Austrian clubs made it to the league stages of European competitions. SK Sturm Graz and FC Red Bull Salzburg competed in the Champions League, while LASK and SK Rapid were represented in the Conference League. The financial returns from these competitions are of central importance for the clubs in order to further ensure their competitiveness.

The income of the Champions League participants was impressive. Aston Villa received 83.69 million euros, while the result of FC Red Bull Salzburg with 42.55 million euros and SK Sturm Graz with 28.03 million euros faded into the background. The bonuses for the European competitions are paid out depending on the power result in the respective leagues and the progress of the games.

Price numbers and distribution

This season the prize money was divided among different categories. The winners of the Champions League received 25 million euros, while the losers of the final received 18.5 million euros. PSG, who won the title, earned a total of €73.55 million in bonuses leading up to the final. The payout increases particularly in the knockout phase, as the teams were able to generate additional income for each advance in the rounds.

The detailed distribution of prize money also included revenue for wins in the league phase, valued at 2.1 million euros per win, as well as 700,000 euros for a draw. A team could earn a maximum of 90.82 million euros if they had won all games in the league phase. This highlights the increasing importance of financial resources for clubs who want to increase their value in international football.

The relevant numbers and structures have changed significantly when it comes to the European football landscape. Participation in the Champions League promises not only glory, but also significant financial returns, which are of utmost importance for the development of clubs.

For detailed information on the income of participating clubs in the Champions League and their performances, you can download the full reports from Laola1, Sporting News and SWP consult.