Version 1.1 · 28 October 2026
Methodology
FCV values every club the same way, from public data, and publishes the method so anyone can check it. The headline number is enterprise value: the value of the club's operations and assets before debt.
The formula
Base value = w × (Forward revenue × Adjusted multiple) + (1 − w) × (Realisable squad + Stadium + Training ground) Live value = P(promoted) × Promoted value + P(relegated) × Relegated value + P(stays) × Base value
Forward revenue. The latest filed revenue plus 4% growth, where it was earned in the club's current division. Otherwise a league revenue model based on attendance is blended in. Parachute payments that have ended are removed.
Adjusted multiple. A league base multiple (Premier League 2.5x, Championship 1.6x, League One 1.2x, League Two 1.0x, Scotland 1.5x, LaLiga and Serie A 3.0x, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 2.6x, Eredivisie 2.7x), plus a brand premium of up to 3.3x for the largest commercial clubs (outside England, also a fanbase premium for large stadiums), adjusted for stadium ownership, academy category and filed operating margin.
Realisable assets. 75% of squad market value, the stadium at a per-seat value by division if the club owns it, and the training ground.
Weighting. The revenue approach carries 75% in the Premier League and Europe's top leagues, 50% in the Championship, 40% in League One and 35% in League Two. Lower down, buyers pay more for assets and position than for earnings.
Desirability (English 92). Each club's value in each scenario is adjusted by its Desirability Index premium: its score against the median of the division it would play in, held within ±10% (Premier League), ±15% (Championship) or ±20% (Leagues One and Two). Each division is rescaled so its total is unchanged.
Live value. The rest of the season is simulated 20,000 times. Promoted and relegated values allow for investment, parachute payments and the chance of going straight back.
Desirability Index
Buyers pay for things the accounts do not show. The Desirability Index measures them for the 92 English league clubs, from 18 public indicators in six pillars:
- Heritage and lore (30%)
- Seasons in the top flight, all time; Major honours (weighted); Premier League seasons since 1992; Years since founding
- Global recognition (20%)
- Wikipedia language editions; English Wikipedia views, last 24 months
- Fanbase depth (25%)
- Average home attendance, 2023-25; Attendance vs division median, 2016-25; Stadium capacity; Average division, last 10 seasons
- Catchment (15%)
- Population within 30 km; Median resident pay within 30 km; Share of league support within 30 km
- Location and access (5%)
- Distance to central London; Distance to a major international airport
- Momentum (5%)
- Change in Wikipedia views, year on year; Divisions climbed since 2015; Change in attendance, 2023-24 to 2024-25
Indicators are percentile ranks across the 92; missing values take the division median and are flagged. Within each division the score correlates 0.67 with filed revenue, and 0.70 with every attendance measure removed. Scores for all 92 clubs.
Data grades and ranges
- Grade A
- Built from the club's latest filed accounts (Companies House); range ±15%
- Grade B
- Built from published figures (Deloitte / club releases) or a filed balance sheet; range ±20%
- Grade C
- Modelled estimate; verify before relying on it; range ±30%
Calibration
For the 29 clubs also covered by the KPMG Football Benchmark 2026, the median ratio of FCV value to KPMG value is 0.94, and 14 of the 29 are within 10%.
Sources
Club accounts filed at Companies House and national registries; Deloitte Football Money League 2026; KPMG Football Benchmark 2026; league tables and fixtures; stadium capacities from public records. Scanned filings are read by OCR and checked.
Values are updated after every round of matches and when new accounts are filed. Every change to the method is versioned on this page.
Change log
- v1.1 · 2 October 2026
- Desirability Index v0.9 added for the English 92. It replaces the stadium-size fanbase premium for English clubs. Division totals are unchanged.
- v1.0 · 29 September 2026
- First public release.