The Price of Football: Which Premier League team offers fans the best value for money?
Premier League fans are charged a small fortune to follow their teams across the season, but which club provides the best value for money?
The Premier League has been regarded as the ‘best league in the world’ for some time now, but are fans getting enough bang for their buck?
England’s top teams demand more revenue from sponsors and television deals than any other club sides.
They use this money to attract the world’s top players, allowing fans to witness ‘the beautiful game’ played at its highest level.
But it’s coming at a price.
At a time when millions of UK households are struggling financially, thousands of Premier League fans are being forced to fork out more than ever to follow their teams.
Fourteen of the 20 Premier League teams have increased season ticket prices ahead of the 2026/27 season.
While the likes of Bournemouth, Leeds and Liverpool opted for modest 3% rises, others went higher. The cheapest season tickets at Premier League returnees Ipswich Town will cost almost 14% more next season, and that was announced before they secured promotion.
Several supporters’ groups launched angry protests upon hearing that season ticket prices were rising. Many have echoed the sentiment that football is becoming increasingly less about the fans. Others have complained that price increases aren’t being matched by improvements in the stadium or on the pitch.
Below, we explore how much Premier League teams are charging for 2026/27 season tickets, which clubs are asking fans for extra cash, and which can claim to offer the best value for money in England’s top flight.
Which Premier League teams have frozen season ticket prices?
In response to protests from fan groups, Premier League clubs often insist they need to increase ticket prices to remain competitive at the highest level.
Many point to inflation (CPI was 3% in the 12 months to April 2026) and increased taxes. Yet, six Premier League teams effectively poured cold water on these excuses by freezing season ticket prices for 2026/27.
These were:
- Chelsea
- Crystal Palace
- Everton
- Manchester City
- Nottingham Forest
- Tottenham
As part of our investigation into which Premier League teams offer the best value for money, we compared each team’s stance on season ticket prices with their home form in 2025/26.
And a clear pattern emerged.
| Club | Home Points in 2025/26 | Season Ticket Price Increase* |
| Arsenal | 47 | 3.90% |
| Manchester City | 45 | FROZEN |
| Manchester Utd | 42 | 5% |
| Aston Villa | 38 | 5% |
| Liverpool | 36 | 3% |
| Fulham | 35 | 3.50% |
| Brighton | 33 | 3.28% |
| Sunderland | 33 | N/A** |
| Brentford | 32 | 5% |
| Leeds Utd | 32 | 3% |
| Newcastle Utd | 32 | 5% |
| Bournemouth | 31 | 3% |
| Chelsea | 26 | FROZEN |
| Everton | 23 | FROZEN |
| Crystal Palace | 21 | FROZEN |
| Nottm Forest | 20 | FROZEN |
| Tottenham | 15 | FROZEN |
*Based on the renewal price of the cheapest available season ticket
**Sunderland is raising season ticket prices based on several factors, including how long the fan has held their ticket.
Five of the six teams to freeze season ticket prices were very poor at home last season. In fact, Chelsea, Everton, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Spurs were the five WORST home teams that avoided relegation.
Manchester City bucked the trend by freezing season ticket prices despite winning 14 of their 19 home games, picking up 45 points. Only Arsenal could boast a better home record. This will be the third straight season that the Citizens have frozen ticket prices.
All three promoted teams will raise ticket prices as well. Interestingly, both Ipswich and Hull City announced their 2026/27 pricing structure before their promotion was confirmed.
Coventry waited until 12 June to confirm that prices would be increasing, with the Sky Blues upping their costs more than any other side set to feature in the Premier League next season.
| Club | Home Points in 2025/26 (Championship) | Season Ticket Price Increase* |
| Coventry City | 55 | 15.74% |
| Ipswich Town | 50 | 13.94% |
| Hull City | 38 | 10% |
*Based on the renewal price of the cheapest available season ticket
At 13.94% and 10% respectively, Ipswich and Hull fans join the Championship winners in facing the highest price rises, based on the value of their cheapest season tickets.
Which Premier League teams offer the best value for money?
There are countless variables that could be used to measure value for money at a Premier League match.
Casual fans might suggest that the quality of the surroundings should be considered. How clean are the toilets? How well can you see the game? How quickly can you grab a half-time pie and pint?
Of course, these elements all add to the matchday experience. But let’s be honest. Most true fans would agree that scoring goals and winning games are all that matters.
When your striker buries one in the top corner, all other concerns are instantly forgotten. It’s a high that’s incomparable to anything else. That’s why we go to the football.
So, we’ll measure value for money by comparing season ticket prices with the most important factors. Goals and winning.
| Club | Cheapest Season Ticket 2026/27 |
| Arsenal | £978 |
| Tottenham | £856 |
| Liverpool | £734.50 |
| Aston Villa | £703 |
| Chelsea | £700 |
| Manchester Utd | £646 |
| Everton | £640 |
| Brighton | £630 |
| Nottm Forest | £575 |
| Leeds Utd | £510 |
| Fulham | £489.55 |
| Brentford | £485 |
| Crystal Palace | £485 |
| Sunderland | £460 |
| Bournemouth | £436 |
| Manchester City | £425 |
| Newcastle Utd | £380 |
The figures above are based on the cheapest available 19-game adult season tickets, offered to fans renewing for the 2026/27 campaign.
Despite all teams playing the same 19 opponents, there’s a huge difference in costs.
Arsenal fans will pay at least £978 to watch the Gunners compete throughout 2026/27. Meanwhile, some Newcastle fans will only hand over £380 to watch their team. Almost three times less.
We ranked the cheapest season tickets for the 17 surviving Premier League teams on a price per-goal basis, using the number of home goals scored in 2025/26.
If tickets were priced fairly based on expected value for money, we might expect all Premier League fans to pay a similar price per goal scored.
However, as you’ll see in the table below, there’s a huge variance.
| Club | Cheapest Season Ticket 2026/27 | Home Goals 2025/26 | Price Per Goal |
| Manchester City | £425 | 45 | £9.44 |
| Newcastle Utd | £380 | 36 | £10.56 |
| Brentford | £485 | 33 | £14.70 |
| Bournemouth | £436 | 29 | £15.03 |
| Fulham | £489.55 | 30 | £16.32 |
| Manchester Utd | £646 | 39 | £16.56 |
| Leeds Utd | £510 | 29 | £17.58 |
| Sunderland | £460 | 25 | £18.40 |
| Brighton | £630 | 30 | £21.00 |
| Liverpool | £734.50 | 34 | £21.60 |
| Aston Villa | £703 | 32 | £21.97 |
| Arsenal | £978 | 41 | £23.85 |
| Everton | £640 | 26 | £24.62 |
| Crystal Palace | £485 | 19 | £25.53 |
| Chelsea | £700 | 26 | £26.92 |
| Nottm Forest | £575 | 20 | £28.75 |
| Tottenham | £856 | 22 | £38.91 |
The table shows that Manchester City are offering fans the best value for money, based on last season’s scoring rate (£9.44 per goal).
At £38.91 per goal, Tottenham offers the worst value. More than four times worse than City. Nottingham Forest and Chelsea fans can also consider themselves hard done by.
Now, let’s look at the most expensive non-hospitality seats.
| Club | Most Expensive Season Ticket |
| Fulham | £3,191.94 |
| Tottenham | £2,367 |
| Arsenal | £2,196 |
| Manchester Utd* | £1,165 |
| Brighton | £1,100 |
| Chelsea | £1,095 |
| Manchester City | £1,080 |
| Aston Villa | £997.50 |
| Newcastle Utd | £987 |
| Everton | £965 |
| Bournemouth | £960 |
| Liverpool | £931 |
| Nottm Forest | £915 |
| Leeds Utd | £896 |
| Crystal Palace | £870 |
| Brentford | £855 |
| Sunderland | £715 |
*Based on unofficial sources
Tottenham also offer the worst value for money based on these figures, although it’s a close race with Fulham. The Cottagers offered the most expensive season ticket in the Premier League last season (£3,084), and prices are going up by 3.5% for 2026/27.
That means some Fulham season ticket holders will be paying £168 per game, and £106.40 per goal based on last season’s strike rate.
Manchester City’s most expensive seats will cost £1,080 next term. That’s £24 per goal based on last season’s free-scoring side. The best value for money again, just behind Brentford (£25.91 per goal).
| Club | Most Expensive Season Ticket 2026-27 | Home Goals 2025/26 | Price Per Goal |
| Manchester City | £1,080 | 45 | £24.00 |
| Brentford | £855 | 33 | £25.91 |
| Liverpool | £931 | 34 | £27.38 |
| Newcastle Utd | £987 | 36 | £27.42 |
| Sunderland | £715 | 25 | £28.60 |
| Manchester Utd | £1,165 | 39 | £29.87 |
| Leeds Utd | £896 | 29 | £30.90 |
| Aston Villa | £997.50 | 32 | £31.17 |
| Bournemouth | £960 | 29 | £33.10 |
| Brighton | £1,100 | 30 | £36.67 |
| Everton | £965 | 26 | £37.12 |
| Chelsea | £1,095 | 26 | £42.12 |
| Nottm Forest | £915 | 20 | £45.75 |
| Crystal Palace | £870 | 19 | £45.79 |
| Arsenal | £2,196 | 41 | £53.56 |
| Fulham | £3,191.94 | 30 | £106.40 |
| Tottenham | £2,367 | 22 | £107.59 |
But what about winning? Most fans would rather see their team win 1-0 than lose 5-4, right?
As it happens, there’s not much difference between the teams offering the best and worst value for money, whether you’re comparing goals or points. Goals help you win games, after all.
| Club | Price Per Point* |
| Manchester City | £9.44 – £24 |
| Newcastle Utd | £10.56 – £27.42 |
| Brentford | £14.70 – £25.91 |
| Bournemouth | £15.03 – £33.10 |
| Leeds United | £15.94 – £28 |
| Fulham | £16.32 – £106.40 |
| Manchester Utd | £16.56 – £29.87 |
| Sunderland | £18.40 – £28.60 |
| Arsenal | £20.81 – £53.56 |
| Brighton | £21 – £36.67 |
| Liverpool | £21.60 – £27.38 |
| Aston Villa | £21.97 – £31.17 |
| Everton | £24.62 – £37.12 |
| Crystal Palace | £25.53 – £45.79 |
| Chelsea | £26.92 – £42.12 |
| Nottm Forest | £28.75 – £45.75 |
| Tottenham | £38.91 – £107.59 |
*Based on 2026/27 season ticket prices and the number of home goals scored in 2025/26
In this case, Manchester City and Newcastle are offering the best value for money by far. Meanwhile, Tottenham fans will continue to feel frustrated, and understandably ripped off looking at this table.
Why do Premier League teams need to increase season ticket prices?
Most clubs announced their season ticket renewal prices in March, giving fans plenty of time to decide whether they want to stump up the cash.
But it’s not only this latest round of price gouging that’s rubbing them the wrong way. Many Premier League fans have to consistently find more money to continue watching their team.
Fulham have increased season ticket prices for the last four seasons – a total increase of more than 30%, according to fan-led podcast Cravenblog.
Manchester United have also increased prices for four consecutive seasons, despite their well-documented struggles to improve the team and their Old Trafford stadium.
Of the six teams that froze season ticket prices for 2026/27, four of them increased costs last season. Only Spurs (2) and Manchester City (3) have frozen season ticket prices for consecutive campaigns.
Meanwhile, over in Germany, the average lowest-priced Bundesliga season ticket was £170. Bayern Munich season tickets were available for roughly £149.
When asked about season ticket prices in 2013, former Bayern president Uli Hoeneß famously said: “Let’s say we charged £300. We’d get £2 million more in income, but what’s £2 million to us?
“We do not think the fans are like cows, who you milk. Football has got to be for everybody.”
Since then, they’ve won 12 out of 13 Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues.
So why is it being touted as ‘essential’ for English clubs to continue rinsing their fans? Manchester City have competed fairly well without milking their supporters dry. They’re undoubtedly providing the best value for money in the Premier League, based on our calculations.
Whatever happens with their 115 charges, The Citizens deserve some credit for keeping ticket charges on ice for a third straight year.