Barcelona lose top spot, Man Utd climb to third – the clubs with the highest attendances in 2024

​

Worldwide rankings 

©TM/IMAGO

Football would be nothing without its fans and 2024 was yet another example of how much the punters that make their way through the turnstiles and on the terraces each and every weekend make up the lifeblood of the beautiful game. As such, many of the sport’s biggest clubs can lay claim to remarkable crowds, which often remain resolutely loyal to their respective clubs despite the form on and off the pitch. However, that’s not always true of every club, and as Transfermarkt presents the highest average attendances in football over the course of 2024, there are some notable omissions from this year’s list as well as a number of clubs that have fallen down or climbed up the rankings. 

The top 50 most attendance clubs in 2024

The latest Transfermarkt data on football matchday attendances for 2024 highlights Borussia Dortmund as the new leader in terms of average attendance. With a staggering 81,312 fans per match packing the Signal Iduna Park, the Bundesliga club overtook Barcelona (who vacated the Camp Nou this year) to claim first place. Bayern Munich, their domestic rivals, come in second with a commendable 75,000 spectators per game, underscoring Germany’s reputation as a powerhouse for football fan engagement. In third place, Manchester United, who welcomed an impressive average of 73,700 fans to Old Trafford. Which is no small feat considering the club’s struggles on and off the pitch over the course of the last 12 months.

The Premier League’s enduring popularity is further highlighted by the presence of several English clubs on the list. West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur, and Arsenal also feature prominently, with average attendances surpassing 60,000. Italian giants Inter Milan and AC Milan rank fourth and fifth, respectively, with attendance figures exceeding 70,000. The San Siro continues to be a fortress of Italian football, with both clubs capitalising on a resurgence in Serie A’s competitiveness and global appeal in recent years. Spanish representation is equally noteworthy, as Real Madrid, with an average attendance of 69,468, maintains its position as one of the most-followed clubs worldwide, supported by consistent success on and off the pitch. They’re joined by cross-city rivals Atletico, who ranked twelfth on the list with an average attendance of 60,717 fans. As previously noted, Barcelona dropped heavily down the list due to playing at the Olímpic Lluís Companys, which has a capacity of just under 56,000 seats.

Elsewhere, the list features clubs from diverse regions, including Brazil’s Flamengo, which draws over 53,000 fans to its home matches, showcasing the passionate support for football in South America. Celtic, Benfica, and Marseille highlight strong fan bases in Scotland, Portugal, and France, respectively. And, to their immense credit, a number of second division clubs in Germany continue to bring in passionate supporters each and every week. Despite lingering near the bottom of the German second division, Schalke still have an average fan base that could rival most clubs around Europe, while Hamburg SV’s average attendance of 55,924 in 2024 clearly underlines how well supported the club are despite their constant inability to win promotion back to the Bundesliga.