Shirt sponsorship of European clubs in 2013-14

The main shirt sponsor is, in the vast majority of cases, the number one corporate partner of football clubs in Europe. The shirt sponsorship market of the five major European leagues (Barclays Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A TIM, Liga BBVA and Ligue 1) represents € 520.2 million in revenues for 98 first division clubs (20 clubs in England, Italy, Spain and France, 18 in Germany) in 2013-14, which is 25% more than the kit and equipment supplier market, estimated at € 390 million.

Among the 98 clubs of the five championships, 10 (7 in La Liga, 2 in Serie A and 1 in Ligue 1) have no main shirt sponsor for 2013-14.

The revenue per club is on average higher in the Premier League with € 8.6 million, against € 7.3 million in the Bundesliga, € 3.9 million in the Serie A and La Liga, and € 2.8 million in Ligue 1. The average of the Top 5 shirt sponsors in each European league is € 5.3 million. Nonetheless, large gaps exist within championships. Barcelona, with Qatar Airways, and Real Madrid, with Emirates, together account for 71% of sponsorship revenues in the Liga BBVA. Similarly, the…