49ers to 'accelerate' Leeds United commercial growth after £180m benchmark

Leeds United’s revenue is expected to "accelerate" given their successful return to the Premier League and the size of their fanbase, according to global sports finance expert Rob Wilson.

The Whites posted a Championship-record revenue of £137million in their latest published figures, for the 2024/25 promotion season, back in April. They also ranked ninth in the commercial table out of all English clubs during the period.

“The 49ers bring a huge amount of commercial acumen to Leeds United - what you're doing is fusing a hugely successful North American brand with a hugely historical English football team,” Wilson told Leeds Live.

“So bringing all of that commercial expertise, that opportunity to break into new markets through digital infrastructures, through new sponsorship arrangements, should really enable Leeds United to accelerate their commercial growth.

“Perhaps even put it into a position where that commercial revenue starts to mirror the amounts that they're generating through their broadcast revenue.”

Leeds earned £58m through commercial sales during the 2024/25 term - a staggering total for a team in the Championship at the time.

Premier League clubs receive around £100m in broadcast payments each season, excluding merit money (how high a team finished) or facility payments (how many of their games were broadcast live).

Wilson - Professor of Applied Sport Finance at the University Campus of Football Business, based in London and Manchester - says Leeds have room for financial growth beyond their current and former Premier League levels, given the supporter backing they have.

Wilson added: “Leeds are a really interesting club financially. I don't necessarily think their current revenues truly reflect the size of their brand.

“I think what we need to remember is that the last time they were in the Premier League, Deloitte had them at around 27th on the revenue generating list.

"They were generating around about £180m worth of revenue, but subsequently they fell into the Championship and were generating somewhere in the region of £140m.

“Of course, they've been promoted now so they're able to capitalise on some of those commercial deals and those other opportunities through sponsorships.

“I'd really expect them to start rising through that revenue league that really reflects their size, the scale of their fan base and of course the fact that the Premier League is broadcast to around about two billion people every week.”

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