The Premier League proves recession resilient as revenues reach £2 billion.

The Premier League appears to be bucking the trend during the financial crisis as annual revenue increases by 26% to £2 billion.

According to the latest Annual Review of Football Finance from the Sport Business Group at Deloitte, Premier League clubs have regained their status as the world’s most profitable.

Revenues have been bolstered by a new television rights deal and despite the economic downturn, Deloitte expect England’s top clubs to continue to improve profitability in 2009/10, albeit at a slower pace.

Dan Jones, Partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said: “The domestic and international popularity if the Premier League continues to generate remarkable revenue growth.

“It will, of course, be hard to maintain this pace in the immediate future. The new economic realities may lead to flat matchday revenues. However, the stepped increases in the current domestic broadcast deal and the new UEFA Champions League TV deal make it likely overall revenues will edge up.”

Net debt has also increased among the English Premier League clubs, rising from £2.7bn to £3.1bn over the year.

Paul Rawnsley, Director in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, commented: “Whilst debt in the Premier League has risen, two-thirds of this debt is in respect of just four clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United – and around £1.2bn is non-interest bearing ‘soft loans’.

“Debt is not necessarily a bad thing for clubs; as long as it is manageable within a club’s finances and is sustainable and repayable.”