Premier League clubs soar into profit with record £4.5bn revenues

• 2016-17 accounts show 17 top-flight clubs making money
• First year of new TV deal and new regulations fuel boom

The first year of the Premier League’s record £8.4bn television deals, combined with financial regulations aimed at preventing the bulk of the money being paid to players and agents, has transformed England’s top 20 clubs overwhelmingly into profit. The Guardian’s analysis of the clubs’ most recently published accounts, for the 2016-17 season and financial year, found that 17 clubs made a profit, on record revenues of more than £4.5bn.

The clubs’ booming financial health under the 2016-19 broadcasting deals puts into perspective the current demands of the richest six clubs for yet more money, from a greater share of the international TV income, which is shared equally among all 20. That demand, led by Liverpool and Manchester City and said to be supported by Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, clubs all owned by investors based overseas, is set to be voted on at Friday’s Premier League meeting.

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