Champions Leicester only received fifth-highest Premier League prize money payment
Leicester may have taken the plaudits and the silverware but Arsenal took home the biggest slice of Premier League prize money last season, becoming the first team ever to bank more than £100m.
The Gunners pocketed £100.9m for finishing second, while Leicester received a relatively modest £93.2m – only the fifth highest amount of the 20 top-flight teams.
Arsenal received more because 27 of their 38 games were shown live on television – more than any other side and 12 times more than the Foxes, despite their march to a fairytale title.
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Manchester City, who earned £97.0m, Manchester United, with £96.5m, and Tottenham, on £95.2m, completed the prize money top five. Champions Chelsea still raked in £87.2 despite a disappointing campaign.
Aston Villa, who were relegated after finishing bottom, received the smallest payment, though even they scooped £66.6m – more than their new owner Xia Jiantong is thought to have paid for the club.
Arsenal become 1st club to break £100m barrier from Premier League income. Will be close to £160m next season. pic.twitter.com/EzJQMLUvsF
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) May 24, 2016
Leicester’s £93.2m windfall may have been eclipsed by those of their more famous rivals, but it was still a £21.6m increase on the £71.6m they got in 2014-15.
All clubs get an equal share of the Premier League’s TV and commercial deals, which last season amounted to around £55m each.
They then receive payments depending on TV appearances and league performance – last year between £8.7m and £21.5m for TV, and £1.2 to £24.8m for position in the table.
Prize money is set to rocket again next term, with a new set of broadcast contracts set to guarantee even the worst-performing teams around £100m and the best up to £160m.