Club Brugge Finances 2023/24

Ça Plane Pour Moi

In advance of Manchester City’s make-or-break game against Club Brugge in the last round of the shiny new league phase in the Champions League, I thought that it might be interesting to take a look at the Belgian club’s finances.

Background

Club Brugge are one of the most successful clubs in Belgium, having won no fewer than 19 league titles, including six in the last nine years. Much of this has been built on money earned from regularly competing in Europe, which has given them a financial advantage over the rest of the Belgian Pro League.

A recent highlight came two years ago when they reached the Champions League last 16, before being eliminated by Benfica. Those with a longer memory might remember Brugge going all the way to the 1978 European Cup final, where they only lost 1-0 to Liverpool at Wembley after Kenny Dalglish scored the winner for the Reds.

Last season Club Brugge won the league, after only finishing fourth the year before, and reached the semi-finals of both the Belgian Cup and the Europa Conference League.

Profit/(Loss) 2023/24

Based on their consolidated accounts, Club Brugge posted a €6.9m pre-tax profit, though this was down from the previous season’s €17.1m.

Revenue dropped by around a third (€31.0m) from the club record €99.6m to €68.6m, but this was largely offset by profit from player sales increasing by €20.2m (39%) from €51.1m to €73.1m. In addition, operating expenses were slightly cut by €2.8m (2%) to €154.8m.

The loss after tax was a fair bit lower at €1.5m, taking into consideration a €5.4m tax charge.

The main reason for the steep reduction in revenue was only playing in the Europa Conference, as opposed to the far more lucrative Champions League, which led to broadcasting income more than halving, falling €31.1m from €55.0m to €23.9m.

Match day was also slightly lower, down €0.2m (1%) from €22.6m to €22.4m, but commercial rose €0.4m (2%) from €22.0m to €22.4m.

In addition, Club Brugge booked €21.4m other operating income, down €1.6m (7%) from €23.0m.

In line with the lower revenue, Club Brugge’s wages fell €8.2m (9%) from €93.2m to €85.0m, though player amortisation increased €0.5m (2%) from €29.3m to €29.8m. There was also growth in both depreciation, up €0.3m (7%) from €4.9m to €5.2m, and other expenses, up €4.4m (15%) from €30.3m to €34.7m.