Aston Villa are targeting a return to the Champions League this season, whether through their league finish or by lifting the Europa League trophy at the end of May.
They enjoyed a lucrative run in UEFA’s top-tier competition last season, reaching the quarter-finals before being beaten on aggregate by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Advancing to the final eight was a hugely impressive achievement for Villa, who defeated Club Brugge 6-1 across both legs, having previously lost 1-0 in the league phase at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
This season, Villa aren’t just be aiming for another deep run in European competition – they’ll be targeting Europa League glory and an end to their long wait for silverware.
Tottenham defeated Manchester United in last season’s final in Bilbao and reaped the financial rewards of that success, but the difference in prize money between competing in the Champions League and the Europa League is stark.
If Villa were to win the Europa League, they would earn around £26 million in prize money. By contrast, simply participating in the league phase of the Champions League last season earned them around £16 million.
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Of course, if Villa were to lift the Europa League trophy, the financial reward would be secondary – as winning silverware is what truly matters.
Last season, Villa earned £1.77 million per win in the Champions League league phase, while a Europa League victory brings in £390,000, and a draw £130,000 (compared to £590,000 in the Champions League).
Villa secured direct passage to the last 16 in the Champions League, banking £9.3 million, while each position in the league phase table was worth £232,000 – meaning the club that finished 36th earned that figure, with an additional £232,000 added for each higher ranking.
Villa finished eighth, earning £6.8 million from their standing, plus nearly £10 million in additional revenue for reaching the last 16. They also received a £1.7 million bonus for finishing inside the top nine of the league phase table.
Reaching the quarter-finals generated a further £10.5 million for Villa, who made over £50 million in prize money alone – before accounting for gate receipts and UEFA’s value pillar, which added another £16 million.
Emery’s side also secured automatic round of 16 qualification in the Europa League this season, earning £1.51 million, which is a £7.8 million difference to UEFA’s top competition.
Prize Money comparison: Champions League vs Europa League
Europa League
- League phase qualification: £3.7 million
- League phase win: £390,000
- League phase draw: £130,000
- Qualification for the round of 16: £1.51 million
- Qualification for the quarter-finals: £2.17 million
- Qualification for the semi-finals: £3.64 million
- Qualification for the final: £6.07 million
- Winners: £5.21 million
Champions League
- League phase qualification: £15.7 million
- League phase win: £1.77 million
- League phase draw: £590,000
- Qualification for the round of 16: £9.3 million
- Qualification for the quarter-finals: £10.5 million
- Qualification for the semi-finals: £12.4 million
- Qualification for the final: £16 million
- Winners: £5.6 million
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