MANCHESTER — Forbes published its annual list of the world’s most valuable football clubs, ranking Manchester United third with a valuation of £5.35 billion. The figure represents an increase from £4.9 billion the previous year.

Real Madrid holds the top position on the 2026 list at £7.06 billion, followed by Barcelona at £5.57 billion. Liverpool ranks fourth at £4.61 billion, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain (£4.31 billion), Bayern Munich (£4.24 billion), Manchester City (£4.09 billion), Arsenal (£4.01 billion), Chelsea (£3.12 billion), and Tottenham (£2.23 billion).

Manchester United reported an operating profit of £37.7 million for the nine months ending March 31, 2026, a marked improvement from the £3.2 million operating loss recorded during the same period the prior year. The club also posted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of £187.5 million for the nine-month window, up from £145.3 million a year earlier.

The club’s revenue for the full 2024–25 season totaled £643 million ($865 million). That season, Manchester United finished 15th in the Premier League under manager Ruben Amorim and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. The team did not qualify for any European competition during the 2025/26 season. Michael Carrick was appointed manager after Amorim’s dismissal and guided Manchester United to a third-place finish in the Premier League, securing qualification for the following season’s Champions League.

The Premier League dominates Forbes’ rankings, with six of its teams in the top 10 and 11 in the top 30. Other Premier League clubs in the top 30 include Aston Villa (16th, £1.04 billion), Newcastle United (19th, £935 million), Everton (25th, £692 million), Fulham (26th, £685 million), and Brighton (27th, £678 million). The average value of the top 30 clubs on the list is £2.15 billion, a 21% increase from the previous year’s average of £1.78 billion.