The most valuable Champions League squads and pots in brand new format

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Draw tonight 

The new Champions League format will be introduced this season with the draw for the 2024/25 league phase taking place this evening – 5pm UK time. The most prestigious club tournament has been restructured with a new 36-team league format replacing the group stages, featuring 32 teams. 

All participating clubs have been divided into four pots of nine based on their coefficient points and each club will play eight games in the league face – two from each pot, one home and one away. The top 8 clubs will qualify automatically with the teams finishing between positions nine and 24 entering a play-off for the remaining eight places in the last-16 phase. But who are the most valuable clubs in the Champions League this season and how do clubs rank in their pots? Let’s find out. 

Pot 1 

The holders Real Madrid are the most valuable team in the competition at €1.34b. The Spanish giants deservedly beat Borussia Dortmund in last year’s final at Wembley to be crowned king of Europe for the 15th time. Manchester City are the second most valuable club in the competition and pot 1 at €1.27b. German clubs are the most represented nations in Pot 1 with three clubs – Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Dortmund – featuring. 

Pot 2

Only three clubs in the world have a squad valued at over €1 billion with Arsenal joining Man City and Real Madrid. Mikel Arteta’s men are the most valuable team in Pot 2 with their €1.2b valuation almost double second placed Bayer Leverkusen. Italian teams performed exceptionally in European competition with three clubs – AC Milan, Juventus and Atalanta – in pot 2.

Pot 3 

No club in Pot 3 is valued at more than €400m with Portuguese champions Sporting CP the most valuable at €396m. Scottish Champions Celtic will be aiming to improve their dreadful recent european record and they famously lifted the European Cup in 1967. Three clubs’ squads – Zagreb, Red Star and Young Boys – are valued under €100m.

Pot 4 

Aston Villa secured their return to the Champions League by securing a stunning fourth placed finish in the Premier League season. Despite being in Pot 4, Villa’s squad is more valuable than any club in Pot 3. Bologna will participate in the Champions League for the first time in their history, as will Spanish side Girona.