England’s social media superclubs ranked: United a country mile clear

The modern game isn’t just decided on the grass — it’s fought in the feeds. A sweeping CIES Football Observatory study has tallied up England’s biggest online followings, and it’s Manchester United who still move the needle like no one else. From title winners to sleeping giants and newly resurgent sides, the numbers tell a story of heritage, hype and smart digital graft.

If you’re tracking form, fame and a flutter, this is one table worth bookmarking. For more guides around the game and the marketplace, head to our best betting sites hub — and note these headline figures: Man United 238.6m, Man City 187.8m, Liverpool 179.2m, Chelsea 156.5m, Arsenal 118.5m.

The big picture

Social platforms have turned English clubs into global broadcasters. Premier League powerhouses now feel like worldwide franchises, pumping out content to fans from Manila to Manchester. Even West Ham push past 20 million across their channels, proof that the game’s reach has never been broader.

Places 17–11: Climbers, cup runs and steady builders

Leeds United sneak onto the ladder at 17th with 7.0m, a solid base that could balloon if their upward curve holds. Sunderland’s revival is writ large online — they’re 16th on 7.2m and have rocketed 55.3% year-on-year after a barnstorming return to the Premier League that ended in seventh and a Europa League ticket. Southampton (15th, 7.7m) were dramatic losers in the Championship playoff final, while Crystal Palace (14th, 8.4m) paraded their Europa Conference League crown to a bigger audience than ever.

Brighton & Hove Albion (13th, 9.7m) keep punching above their weight; Wolverhampton Wanderers (12th, 12.3m) remain a sturdy mid-table presence online; and Everton (11th, 17.7m) show impressive resilience with a 21.8% bump despite turbulence on the pitch.

Places 10–6: Villa’s rise, Hammers’ paradox, Spurs’ megaphone

Aston Villa kick off the top ten on 19.6m, the Unai Emery effect stamped all over their Champions League return and Europa League triumph — a far cry from those Championship days. West Ham sit 9th at 20.3m, which is the curious part: their following grew 6.3% across a season that ended in relegation. That’s brand power cutting through the gloom.

Newcastle United’s PIF-powered ascent continues (8th, 21.3m), and Leicester City (7th, 24.3m) remind everyone that legacy travels — even in League One. Then comes the great leap: Tottenham Hotspur are 6th on a colossal 112.2m. Trophies may have been thin, but Spurs’ global footprint is anything but.

The top five: United untouchable, City and Liverpool in pursuit

Arsenal open the elite bracket in 5th on 118.5m, fresh from finally ending their Premier League title drought, though a Champions League win still eludes them after a final loss to PSG. Chelsea are 4th with 156.5m — two European crowns this century and a chest of domestic titles have built them into a worldwide juggernaut.

Liverpool sit 3rd on 179.2m. Jurgen Klopp restored the roar, and Arne Slot kept them at full volume, with the club’s global magnetism as strong as ever. Manchester City are 2nd at 187.8m, their Pep-era dominance translating into clicks, clips and converts across continents.

Top of the pile, by a handsome margin, is Manchester United on 238.6m. Results have been mixed in recent seasons, but the brand endures — and after a much-improved league campaign under Michael Carrick that yielded third place, the momentum feels tangible. For context, United are the third-most followed club on the planet, trailing only Real Madrid (487.6m) and Barcelona (441.8m).

Numbers that jump off the page

Three snapshots tell the tale: Spurs’ 112.2m puts daylight between the big five and the rest; Sunderland’s 55.3% surge proves on-pitch romance still moves the needle; and Leicester’s 24.3m from League One underlines that history and fairy tales travel.

Full leaderboard at a glance

1) Manchester United — 238.6m; 2) Manchester City — 187.8m; 3) Liverpool — 179.2m; 4) Chelsea — 156.5m; 5) Arsenal — 118.5m; 6) Tottenham — 112.2m; 7) Leicester City — 24.3m; 8) Newcastle United — 21.3m; 9) West Ham United — 20.3m; 10) Aston Villa — 19.6m; 11) Everton — 17.7m; 12) Wolverhampton Wanderers — 12.3m; 13) Brighton & Hove Albion — 9.7m; 14) Crystal Palace — 8.4m; 15) Southampton — 7.7m; 16) Sunderland — 7.2m; 17) Leeds United — 7.0m.

All figures are sourced from the CIES Football Observatory and are accurate as of 06/06/2026.