According to Transfermarkt, the total value of all clubs within the Danske Bank Premiership in 2022/23 has breached the €27m barrier. Northern Irish football is as strong as it has been for some time, with huge competition between the likes of traditional giants Linfield and Cliftonville and big-spending Larne.
Of course, Northern Ireland’s elite clubs will never equate to the market values of those in the top-flight of English football. In fact, the chasm between English Premier League (EPL) earnings and the rest of Europe continues to grow. A recent report from Deloitte into the richest clubs in the world suggests 11 of the 20 most valuable clubs in Europe are teams within the EPL.
If you’re wondering who the most valuable clubs in the Danske Bank Premiership are this season, we’ve listed the top four sides below:
Linfield – €3.64m
Looking at the market value of Linfield, it’s possible that this is skewed by Transfermarkt’s view that veteran forward Kyle Lafferty still has a market value of €500k. Aged 35, that seems quite a stretch for someone in the twilight of their career. Nevertheless, the likes of proven midfielders Chris Shields (€225k) and Kirk Millar (€250k) still have considerable market value, along with former Glentoran striker Robbie McDaid (€200k). Linfield do look to blood youth where they can, though. Long-serving midfielder Jordan Stewart is a prime example, having graduated through the Belfast Football Academy.
Glentoran – €3.03m
Transfermarkt has Glentoran’s market value as the second-highest in Northern Irish football. This means that the Glens have very much underperformed in 2022/23, currently residing in sixth place, 16 points behind leaders Larne. The Glens’ most valuable player is veteran wide man Niall McGinn, who still retains a €350k market value. That’s followed by goalscoring wide man Conor McMenamin (€250k) and key front man Jay Donnelly (€225k).
Larne – €2.85m
After 30 league games, Larne are six points clear at the top of the table, despite their market value being ranked only third in the league. There is no standout player in terms of market value within the Larne first team squad, although four players a worth over €200k – Rohan Ferguson, Andy Ryan, Leroy Millar and Paul O’Neill. Larne might not just win the Premiership, they’re also in line for a tilt at the Irish Cup this season too.
Cliftonville – €2.82m
Cliftonville are Larne’s closest contenders for the 2022/23 Danske Bank Premiership title. Although they sit six points adrift of their rivals. Cliftonville’s market value is only fractionally less than Larne’s, with star centre forward Ronan Hale the most valuable asset within the squad at €275k. The likes of Ryan Curran, Joe Gormley and Jonny Addis are all valued in the €200k bracket too by Transfermarkt.
The underperformance of Linfield and Glentoran – despite being the most valuable squads – is proof that money doesn’t buy success in any line of business.
