Top 10 most valuable MLS clubs as of 2024

Published at :May 13, 2024 at 2:56 PM

Modified at :May 13, 2024 at 2:56 PM

(Courtesy : Inter Miami)

Major League Soccer is on the rise

Football clubs are no longer just an entity that plays a game. They are a much bigger deal. Gone are the days when a footballer used to get paid pennies to play the sport. The modern football world has players with big paychecks. For example, in the Premier League, almost every other player is a millionaire, lives in big houses and affords luxury cars.

How and why are they getting paid this much? Basically, they are the big tools that run the business of the club overall. Nowadays clubs are also making mammoth sums be it via merchandising, brand deals and whatnot. So why wouldn’t a team pay the guys who are running the business on the pitch? That makes sense, right?

A company named Sportico which goes by the tagline “The Business of Sports” have released a valuable insight into football clubs. It has basically used different metrics like economic future, market and sales, and many more to calibrate a list of the top 50 valuable clubs in the world.

And very surprisingly, 23 of those are from the Major League Soccer. MLS surely have peaked since the arrival of Lionel Messi in July 2023. But still, a lot of other factors have helped. For example, as the league boasts no relegation hurdle, clubs’ value can’t drop significantly. Anyways let’s dive deeper into the top 10 most valuable MLS clubs as of 2024.

10. Portland Timbers – $715 million

The list starts off with Portland Timbers. The Timbers are currently the worst side in the Western Conference of the 2024 MLS season. Their 2022-23 revenue was $69 million which is way below Newcastle United from the English first tier. United’s was $300 million. But as the Magpies are valued at only $700 million, the Oregon-based soccer club are ranked higher in the top 50.

9. D.C. United – $720 million

D.C. United are in ninth place by beating the Timbers by $5m. Even though they also shared the exact same revenue in the 2022-23 season like the side in tenth place on the list, the value of the Black-and-Red is bit higher. The team currently houses former PL players like Christian Benteke and Mateusz Klich.

8. Toronto FC – $725 million

If we put $5 million worth more of value than that of D.C. United, we realise the value of Toronto FC. The Canadian professional soccer club participates in the Eastern Conference. They are tied with English team West Ham United in the overall rankings but their 2022-23 revenue was significantly lower than theirs.

7. Seattle Sounders – $795 million

Seattle Sounders narrowly missed out on the $800 million mark. The team based in Washington are the second-worst outfit in the Western Conference as of now. The longstanding manager Brian Schmetzer surely needs to fix things on the pitch even though their value suggests otherwise.

6. Austin FC – $800 million

The club has played in MLS just from the year 2021. However, it was founded way back in 2018. Austin FC may be a fairly new entrant but they are getting their business right. Their last season revenue was also impressive at $90 million. That’s $13 million more than what the Sounders made.

5. New York City FC – $840 million

Players such as Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard and the 2010 FIFA World Cup winner with Spain – David Villa, have played in the kits of New York City FC. The club is 80 per cent owned by the City Football Group who also own major stakes in Mumbai City FC and Manchester City. Although a 2022-23 revenue of $68 million was lower than the rest of the teams from the sixth position onwards, the Boys in Blue are ranked higher.

4. LA Galaxy – $1.00 billion

Up to the fifth position, all clubs were valued in millions of dollars, now the game changes hereafter. LA Galaxy were the first team in MLS that touched the billion-dollar mark. Their 2022-23 revenue was $94 million. A 22-year-old Riqui Puig, a La Masia graduate, also chose to arrive here after leaving FC Barcelona in 2022.

3. Inter Miami – $1.02 billion

The Messi effect is surreal. Not only did it help in upgrading the standards of the entire league but particularly also that of the team he now plays for. After the 2022 FIFA World Cup winning captain’s arrival we have seen his former Barca teammates Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba also join Inter Miami. $127m was last season’s revenue for David Beckham’s side.

2. Atlanta United – $1.05 billion

Atlanta United made $123 million in the 2022-23 season in terms of revenue but are significantly valued more than the Herons. A $1.05 billion valuation keeps them above Inter Miami but $100 million behind the list leaders.

1. Los Angeles FC – $1.15 billion

Finally, the peak of this top 10 is occupied by none other than Los Angeles FC. In the Western Conference, LAFC currently holds the fifth position at the time of writing. They also were the most successful in terms of revenue generated in the 2022-23 season among MLS clubs with $128 million. In the top 50 clubs list by Sportico, we see them hold the 15th spot. They even outvalued 2023-24 Serie A winners Inter Milan who are on 16th.

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