The income generated by the 92 professional clubs in the English Football League broke the £4bn (US$5.8bn, €5.2bn) mark for the first time as a result of record Premier League revenues.

Over the 2014/15 season, Premier League clubs accounted for £3.3bn (US$4.8bn, €4.3bn) of the total income due to favourable broadcasting rights, helping clubs record a second successive year or pre-tax profits for the first time since 1999.

Clubs in the league recorded their second-highest ever operating profits of £546m (US$786.8m, €704.5m) and pre-tax profits of £121m (US$174.8m, €156.1m).

The growth in income stimulated an increase in expenditure, with wages rising by seven per cent to exceed the £2bn (US$2.9bn, €2.6bn) mark for the first time ever.

According to the Deloitte study, the Premier League generated revenues €2bn (£1.5bn, US$2.2bn) higher than its nearest rival, the German Bundesliga, while Italy’s Serie A and France’s Ligue 1 posted combined operating losses.

Championship clubs saw revenues grow 12 per cent to £548m (US$789.6m, €707.1m) over the 12-months, although wage costs rose by 4 per cent to £541m (US$779.5m, €698.1m).

The exchequer also benefitted from the financial prosperity of the nation’s football clubs, with £1.5bn (US$2.2bn, €1.9bn) in tax generated from all 92 league clubs compared to £1.4bn (US$2bn, €1.8bn) over the prior 12-month period.

“The impact of the Premier League’s broadcast deal is clear to see. For the first time, the Premier League leads the football world in all three key revenue categories – commercial, matchday and broadcast – and this is driving sustainable profitability,” said Deloitte Sports Business Group partner Dan Jones.

“When the enhanced new broadcast deals commence in the 2016/17 season, operating profits could rise as high as £1bn (US$1.4bn, €1.3bn).”