Leicester City ranked the 15th most valuable club in Europe

Leicester City have been ranked the 15th most valuable club in Europe, according to a study from KPMG.

The Foxes have seen a 29% increase in their enterprise value, i.e., the total cost of buying a club (debts included), and they now stand at £533 million.

Leicester City are ahead of such European giants as Napoli, AC Milan and Inter Milan, while they are the seventh most valuable in England, being second only to the Premier League’s big six, who have all crossed the billion mark.

If you look at where Leicester City were in 2014/15 when they came back into the Premier League, no one could have seen it coming. Ever since the great escape, this club from East Midlands has defied one odd after the other on its way to being recognised across the whole of Europe.

They are now set to spend another season in the top division, and that only means yet more growth on the financial front, as is now the trend with most of England’s clubs.

Speaking of the report, KPMG’s global head of sports Andrea Sartori talked of the English clubs’ influence in particular. He said:

"“Despite this year’s [overall aggregate] growth being lower than last year’s 14 percent growth, the football industry continues its rise.“Overall growth is driven by different factors, one of these being the increase of operating revenues of the top 32, at eight percent.“Eye-catching transfer deals and spiralling staff costs have not prevented such clubs from registering a striking upward trend, as the profits before taxes increased by some 17 times in comparison to the previous year.”“One of the reasons for this growth can be found in the significant influence exercised by English clubs, as well as the improved financial health of many mid-size clubs within the ranking, which also reflects compliance with the UEFA FFP (Financial Fair Play) Regulations.”"

Here’s the complete list of the top 20 clubs to have made the cut:

1. Manchester United – £2.85 billion

2. Real Madrid – £2.62 billion

3. FC Barcelona – £2.49 billion

4. Bayern Munich – £2.29 billion

5. Manchester City – £1.93 billion

6. Arsenal – £1.88 billion

7. Chelsea – £1.58 billion

8. Liverpool – £1.41 billion

9. Juventus  – £1.15 billion

10. Tottenham – £1.16 billion

11. Paris Saint-Germain – £1 billion

12. Borussia Dortmund – £928.58 million

13. Atletico Madrid – £788.42 million

14. FC Schalke – £589.56 million

15. Leicester City – £533 million

16. West Ham United – £465.17 million

Next: Reports: Manchester City may have to pay Leicester City £75 million for Riyad Mahrez

17. Napoli – £453.78 million

18. AC Milan – £450.28 million

19. Everton – £448.52 million

20. Inter Milan – £430.13 million