Arsenal have pocketed a record amount of Champions League prize money despite their heartbreaking defeat on penalties to PSG in Budapest. Following a dramatic 1-1 draw, the Gunners were beaten 4-3 on spot-kicks as Gabriel Magalhaes agonisingly blazed over at the Puskas Arena from 12 yards.
Mikel Arteta‘s side had already accumulated around £125.18million in prize money ahead of Saturday’s showpiece final. Although they missed out on lifting the trophy, they still pocketed an additional £16m for finishing as runners-up.
It has been a remarkable Champions League campaign for Arsenal, who also collected £85.3m earlier in the season. That came partly from the initial TV money and rankings pool (worth £49.6m).
On the pitch, they generated a considerable sum through their performances. Winning all eight of their league phase matches and topping the table earned them £15.8m.
In doing so, they also secured a direct passage to the last 16, bypassing the competitive play-off round entirely – a feat worth an additional £11.3m.
Finishing top of the standings also netted them £8.6m, as UEFA distribute funds according to each club’s final league phase position, with greater rewards for those finishing higher up.
Defeating Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 and booking their place in the quarter-finals was worth £10.8m. The Gunners drew 1-1 in Germany before clinching the tie with a 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal faced Sporting CP in the quarter-finals, battling past the Portuguese side 1-0 on aggregate thanks to Kai Havertz‘s late first-leg winner in Lisbon.
Advancing to the semi-finals, where Arsenal locked horns with Atletico Madrid, was also worth £10.8m to the club’s coffers.
It proved a formidable contest against Atletico. The Premier League winners drew the first leg 1-1 in Spain amid VAR controversy before narrowly clinching the second leg 1-0 in north London through Bukayo Saka‘s decisive winner.
Securing their place in the Budapest final – Arsenal’s first Champions League showpiece since 2006 – earned the Gunners a staggering £15.97m in additional prize money.
In total, Arsenal have accumulated £141.18m in Champions League prize money throughout this season, eclipsing what PSG pocketed last year – £124.62m – for going all the way in Munich.
UEFA made a record-breaking £2.13billion prize pot available across this season’s entire Champions League campaign.