With the major mode reform, the bonuses will also change in the Champions League from 2024/25. There is more money – and a new distribution.
In the Bundesliga currently on course for the Champions League: VfB Stuttgart (here Enzo Millot, left) and Bayer Leverkusen (here Piero Hincapie). IMAGO/Kirchner Media
VfB Stuttgart have already put six points between themselves and fifth-placed Leipzig on Sunday with their 3-1 win against 1. FSV Mainz 05. Even if none of those involved still want to say it publicly: the almost relegated team from the previous season is clearly heading for the Champions League after 21 match days, especially since fifth place may even be enough for that.
And there could be worse times to return to the premier class after 15 years. Because: The comprehensive reform, which will take effect from 2024/25, will make the most important European Cup an even richer gold mine than it already is. The Champions League is becoming more lucrative than ever.
Instead of 2.002 billion euros, UEFA will pay out 2.467 billion euros per year from the new season to the clubs that qualify. Although the field of participants is growing from 32 to 36, there is still more money to be earned on average than before.
More details about the CL from 2024/25
While the gap between the Champions and Europa League remains almost unchanged – there is around 4.4 times more money in the premier class – UEFA is changing the distribution key within the Champions League. Both the proportion of signing bonuses and performance bonuses are increasing, while the newly created “value pillar”, which emerged from the previous pillars of market pool and club coefficient and for which past successes are decisive, “only” accounts for 35 percent of the total paid out funds.
New record for entry fees
In concrete terms, this means from the new season onwards: each of the 36 clubs will receive a fixed starting fee of 18.85 million euros, regardless of their performance, which is a good three million euros more than before (15.64 million euros). Because in the future each participant will be guaranteed eight instead of six Champions League games – including four home games instead of the previous three – the fixed income will increase even further.
In addition, every point gained and every advancement will bring in even more money. From 2024/25, the performance bonuses will make up 37 instead of 30 percent of the total bonuses, although UEFA has not yet announced how much money it will reward a draw (previously 930,000 euros) or a win (previously 2.8 million euros).
In addition, the new mode potentially makes it easier to qualify for the knockout phase. Instead of half of the group opponents as before, in the new 36-team league it is enough to leave twelve teams, i.e. a third, behind. Relegations to the Europa League are no longer possible.
Due to the parallel expansion of the Europa and Conference Leagues, there is also more money in the other European cups than before. Rarely have club bosses in Europe hoped for Champions League participation as much as they did this season.