Man City receive largest share of UEFA’s €233m club payments

Manchester City received €5.17 million from UEFA for releasing players to national teams, the largest payment made to any club.

UEFA distributed a record €233 million to 901 clubs across all 55 member associations.

City lead Real Madrid and Inter in payments

Real Madrid received €4.79 million, while Inter collected €4.65 million.

The payments covered players released for the 2020-21 and 2022-23 Nations League campaigns, Euro 2024 qualifying and the tournament in Germany.

How UEFA divided the money

UEFA set aside €100 million for Nations League and qualifying matches. It distributed €93 million and carried the remaining €7 million into the next cycle because some players represented clubs outside Europe.

Another €140 million was allocated to Euro 2024, reaching 196 clubs in 29 associations. The combined total rose from €200 million in the previous cycle.

Clubs received an equal amount for each player released during qualifying, plus a daily payment during the finals. The tournament payment varied according to FIFA’s club training categories.

Payments reach clubs far below the elite

The scheme also rewarded semi-professional and amateur clubs. Several seventh-tier teams received payments, while English tenth-tier club Yorkshire Amateur collected €7,300.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said the programme recognised the work done throughout football’s development system.

“It is fantastic to see clubs of all sizes and levels, across the entire football pyramid, receiving financial rewards for their vital role in developing players,” he said.