Women’s football is no longer developing as a purely domestic sport. Clubs are beginning to operate with the mindset of global entertainment brands, expanding through international tours, merchandise licensing, digital storytelling and worldwide community building long before many of them reach the commercial maturity traditionally associated with global football powerhouses.
For some, they represent a hyper-capitalist nightmare: private investors seeking to suck out the blood (or money) out of women’s football. For others, they’re an opportunity to make women’s football grow faster and more professionally. One way or another, they’re here to stay: Multi-club ownership (MCO) has, over the course of just a few years, become a global phenomenon in women’s football, and the trend is still accelerating. What does this mean for the future of the sport? A new look into the MCO universe, featuring new data and exclusive interviews with experts.
Five years ago, the most valuable player in women’s football was valued at €425,000. Today, that figure stands at €1.6 million. Aitana Bonmatí’s market value is nearly four times higher than Dzsenifer Marozsán’s in 2021. This sharp rise shows how quickly the financial situation of women’s football is changing. Transfer fees are climbing, investors are entering the game, and talent is systematically assigned a financial value.
Fraud schemes are becoming increasingly common across many sectors, and football is no exception. As the sport continues to digitalise and expand globally, new opportunities have emerged not only for growth, but also for exploitation. Women’s football, despite its rapid professional development, has now also become a target.
Arsenal Women recorded a significant rise in revenue during the 2024–25 season, driven by strong growth in commercial and matchday income, but the club’s latest accounts show it remains reliant on financial backing from its parent organisation.