Galatasaray leads: Turkish football clubs bag $54M from UEFA in 2024-25
The official logos of UEFA's three major club competitions—the UEFA Champions League (center), UEFA Europa League (left), and UEFA Europa Conference League (right)—symbolizing Europe's top-tier football tournaments, accessed on Mar. 16, 2025. (Photo via uefa.com)
UEFA earnings of five Turkish football clubs that participated in the 2024-2025 UEFA tournaments totaled €50.28 million ($54.91 million), according to UEFA’s prize money distribution criteria.
Representing Türkiye in the tournaments, Basaksehir, Besiktas, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Trabzonspor were all eliminated before the quarter-final matches.
Among them, Galatasaray earned the highest income among the Turkish teams, while Trabzonspor earned the least.
Galatasaray leads in earnings
Galatasaray entered the European cups at the UEFA Champions League playoff stage, where they were matched against Young Boys. After losing both matches to the Swiss team, the red and yellow team was turned away from the “Champions League” gates, also forfeiting an approximate prize of €40 million.
Missing the Champions League by a narrow margin, Galatasaray secured a sort of “consolation prize” of €4.29 million and continued their journey in the Europa League.
Completing the league stage in 14th place with three wins, four draws, and one loss, the lions ended their European campaign in the round of 16 playoffs, matched against AZ Alkmaar.
The red and yellow team earned €4.31 million from their participation in the Europa League, €1.95 million from points in the league, €2.2 million based on their league standing, and €0.3 million for playing in the round of 16 play-offs.
Galatasaray will also receive €4.56 million from what UEFA calls the “Market Pool,” which is determined by teams’ five and 10-year coefficient scores along with broadcast revenue.
Fenerbahce narrowly missed triumphs
Fenerbahce began their European journey in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
The yellow-navy blues eliminated the Swiss team Lugano, but could not withstand the French team Lille in the third qualifying round, postponing their Champions League dream to another year and continuing in the Europa League.
Fenerbahce completed the Europa League in 24th place with two wins, four draws, and two losses, playing in the round of 16 playoffs.
In this round, they knocked out Anderlecht but eventually bowed out of the tournament after losing to G. Rangers in penalty kicks.
From their participation in the Europa League, Fenerbahce earned €4.31 million, €1.5 million from league points, €1.08 million based on their league standing, €0.3 million for playing in the round of 16 playoffs, and €1.75 million for advancing to the round of 16.
The yellow-navy blues will also add €175,000 from their participation in the second qualifying round of the Champions League and €5.76 million from the Europa League broadcast pool and coefficient (market pool) to their coffers.
Besiktas fails to reach playoffs
After matching up against Lugano, who had been previously knocked out by Fenerbahce in the Champions League qualifiers, the black-and-whites pushed the Swiss team out of this tournament as well, making their mark in the Europa League.
The Black Eagles won three league matches but suffered five defeats, finishing outside the top 24 and concluding their European adventure for the season.
Besiktas earned €4.31 million from league participation, €1.35 million for three victories, and €3.6 million from the broadcasting rights coefficient fund.
Basaksehir’s steady climb
This season, Basaksehir competed in the Conference League, starting from the qualifying rounds and successively eliminating teams from San Marino (La Fiorita), Georgia (Iberia), and Ireland (St. Patrick’s) to advance to the league stage.
The orange-navy blues secured one win, three draws, and two losses. This performance was not sufficient to place them in the top 24, leading to Basaksehir’s exit from Europe.
Basaksehir earned €175,000 for each qualifying round, €3.17 million from league participation, €799,000 from points accumulated in the league, €352,000 from their league standing, and €2.58 million from the broadcasting rights coefficient fund.
Trabzonspor’s disappointing farewell
Trabzonspor’s entry into this season’s European stage began with the Europa League’s second qualifying round.
After eliminating their Slovak opponent Ruzomberok, the maroon-blue team could not hold up against the Austrian team Rapid Wien in the third qualifying round and bid farewell to the Europa League.
Continuing in the Conference League, Trabzonspor faced off against the Swiss team St Gallen in the playoff round.
Defeated in penalty kicks, the maroon-blue team closed their European chapter early in the season, even before the end of August.
Trabzonspor’s UEFA earnings were limited to €350,000 from participating in two Europa League qualifying rounds and €750,000 from being eliminated in the Conference League play-offs.
