Four Premier League clubs on Forbes' most profitable sports teams list as NFL dominates

Four Premier League clubs have been included on Forbes' most profitable sports teams list, including Tottenham Hotspur.

Forbes' list compounds the 25 teams that have generated the most operating income during the past three years, with the NFL dominating the index.

Tottenham are not just the most profitable club in the Premier League, but the third most profitable sports team in the world, according to the report.

The north London side have amassed a recorded income - earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation - of £333 million ($414m) since 2020.

Manchester United are fifth on the list with a total of £324m ($403m) and are ahead of their cross-city rivals Manchester City who sit on £264m ($329m).

Liverpool are the fourth and final English team to feature in the top 25, with an operating profit of £237m ($295m). All four clubs are within the top 12 (Tottenham 3rd, Man Utd 5th, Man City 10th and Liverpool 12th).

While the only other football team to be named alongside them are German giants Bayern Munich, who round off the list in 25th place with earnings of $235m (£189m).

In first place are NFL team the Dallas Cowboys, who are reportedly raking in an eye-watering £1bn ($1.2 billion) operating profit across the last three seasons - almost double that of their closest contenders, the New England Patriots, who sit on £536m ($623m).

Fourth on the list is NBA franchise, the New York Knicks, despite not winning a championship since the 1970s.

The Houston Texans are the next NFL side in sixth while the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers are the New York Giants make up the first nine teams. The Los Angeles Rams are ranked in eleventh place, sandwiched between Manchester City and Liverpool.

The Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles all find themselves in the top 25.

From the NBA, four other teams feature including the Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets.

Interestingly, no MLB or NHL teams are on the list, which Forbes argue is due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with both baseball and ice hockey more reliant on ticket sales.

At a glance, the NFL's dominance is a stark reminder of the money within American football. In total, 13 franchises make up the top 25.

While Tottenham's profit, akin to their most recent success, or lack of, appears somewhat puzzling.