Manchester United tops table as Howden reveals cost of Premier League injuries
According to the broker’s Men’s European Football Injury Index, published on 14 October 2024, a total of 915 injuries were recorded during the season. This cost €318.8m (£266.6m), which accounted for 44% of the total across the top five leagues in Europe.
Manchester United recorded the highest injury cost figure in England at €47.38m (£39.6m), with the club suffering 75 incidents. The club is also among Newcastle United, Chelsea and Liverpool to have experienced injury levels consistently above the league average over the last four seasons. Conversely, Wolves and Crystal Palace were the only teams of those that competed in each of the previous four seasons to record below average injury levels on each occasion.
Last season saw record highs of 4,123 injuries and €732.02 million in costs incurred. Over these last four seasons, men's teams across the top five European leagues have recorded 14,292 injuries excluding Covid-19, costing €2.3 billion. The 2023/24 figures represent a 4% increase in injury frequency and 5% in the overall costs associated.
The latest Injury Index is published amid growing concerns around fixture congestion, with several players having recently raised alarms over the increasing physical demands, and some threatening strike action.
English Premier League (EPL) insights
The report places particular emphasis on the English Premier League (EPL), which has consistently faced above-average injury costs:
EPL injury costs accounted for 44% of the total across the five leagues studied, up from 42% in 2022/23.
The EPL registered 915 injuries at a total cost of EUR 318.8 million.
Injury frequency in the EPL was particularly stark, with clubs experiencing an injury every 94 minutes of competitive football, at a cost of EUR 3,698 per minute.
Across Europe: frequency and cost of injuries
Across the top five men’s leagues, injuries occurred every 92 minutes of play in the 2023/24 season. Players from the 96 clubs competed in 4,232 games, and injuries averaged 0.97 per game, costing teams an average of EUR 172,975 per game and EUR 1,922 per minute.
Notably, clubs including Darmstadt from the Bundesliga endured an injury on average every 33 minutes, while Ligue 1’s Toulouse reported the longest stretch between injuries on average, with one injury every 338 minutes. Both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also faced significant injury costs, with injury frequency well above the Bundesliga average.
Young players feeling the strain
Amid concerns about the amount of minutes young footballers are expected to play, a key area of concern identified in the report was the rising injury severity among players under the age of 21:
In the 2023/24 season, U21 players in the EPL were sidelined for an average of 44 days per injury, a 187% increase compared to the 2020/21 season.
Italian and English U21 players experienced the most significant rise in injury severity, with the average sidelined period in Serie A reaching 35.16 days.
James Burrows, Head of Sport at Howden, commented: “The 2023/24 Howden Men’s European Football Injury Index underscores the ever-increasing physical demands on players. As fixture congestion intensifies with expanded competitions domestically and internationally, we are seeing more players sidelined for longer periods, with a notable 5% rise in injury costs this season alone.
"Our data captures the demands of modern football and we hope it serves as a valuable tool for players, clubs and governing bodies in their ongoing discussions. At Howden, we remain committed to supporting clubs and players by offering innovative insurance solutions and data-driven strategies to mitigate the rising costs and frequency of injuries."
With players schedules busier than ever, the risk of injury is higher. Make sure you’re insured.
The Importance of Career Ending Insurance Cover
Whilst the risk of injury and illness may be unavoidable, its financial impact can be significantly mitigated with the proper planning and the correct cover. A player’s contract determines how long their club is obliged to pay their salary after they sustain a serious or career ending injury.
This timeframe is governed by the contract and a country’s legislation, which varies from one country to another. If the worst happens to a player, their club can terminate their contract and, in some cases, stop paying their salary after six months.
Having a personal accident and illness policy can therefore safeguard a player’s financial future should the unthinkable happen. As long serving business partners of the PFA, Pro-Secure is the only football insurance recommended and endorsed by the PFA protecting careers and ensuring financial stability.
Pro-Secure policies cover career-ending injuries, safeguarding professional players against the financial impact of unexpected accidents, on and off the pitch.