What Would the Europa League Winners Take Home Tonight?

Winning the Europa League is more than just about lifting a shiny silver trophy and earning bragging rights, it’s also a gateway to serious financial rewards.

In the 2024 final, Atalanta stunned Bayer Leverkusen to claim the title. But beyond the on-pitch glory, what did that victory truly mean for them off the field? 

And what can the 2025 finalists, Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United expect to pocket if they go all the way? This is how it works

A trophy worth millions

The Europa League might play second fiddle to the Champions League, but UEFA has made sure it’s still a competition worth winning. 

This year, both Tottenham and Manchester United have already earned over £26 million each through the Europa League journey prize money accumulated from group stage results, knockout wins, and reaching the final.

Just for making it to the final, both clubs received £5.9 million ($7.8 million). But the real cherry on top is what awaits the winner.

The winner’s pay and the UCL bonus

Lifting the Europa League trophy will earn the victorious side an additional £5 million ($6.6 million). However, the biggest financial reward isn’t that final match bonus, it’s what comes after.

The champions automatically qualify for the Champions League, Europe’s most prestigious and profitable club competition. That qualification alone is worth around £16 million ($21.4 million). 

So, in total, the Europa League winner can expect to bank at least £21 million ($28.1 million) in rewards just from the final and UCL qualification.

But that’s just the beginning.

Once in the Champions League, the financial opportunities multiply. Clubs earn bonuses based on their performance in the group stage:

• A win earns around £1.8 million ($2.4 million)
  
• A draw nets £590,000 ($789,640)
  

So even if the Europa League winners don’t make it out of the group stage next season, they’re still likely to pull in millions more from UEFA.

What if you lose the final?

Here’s where the stakes get serious. Unlike in previous seasons, neither Tottenham nor Manchester United are guaranteed a Champions League spot through their domestic league positions. 

For them, the Europa League final is the only ticket back to Europe’s elite tournament. The losing side? They’ll miss out on not just the trophy—but tens of millions in future earnings.

How does it compare to the Champions League?

Of course, the Champions League remains the gold standard. The total prize pool for the 2024–25 UCL season stands at a massive £2.04 billion ($2.72 billion), over four times the Europa League’s pot of £475.4 million ($636 million).

To put it simply: while winning the Europa League is a lucrative achievement, it’s also a stepping stone to the real money-spinner—the Champions League.

Final Whistle

So, what do Europa League winners really take home? At least £21 million, access to European football’s top tier, and the chance to cash in even more in the season that follows. 

For clubs like Tottenham or Manchester United, it’s not just a trophy, it’s a financial lifeline and a door to something much bigger.