Man U top all-time EPL prize money chart

Xhaka agrees to join Arsenal

LONDON, May 25, (RTRS): Manchester United have earned the most prize money since the Premier League’s inception in 1992, and will go through the one billion pound mark next year if they match their fifth-place finish of 2015/16, according to spread-betting firm Spreadex.

United have earned 870.3 million pounds ($1.28 billion), ahead of Arsenal with 842.8 million and Liverpool on 815.4 million, according to the study that collated payments to every team over the past 24 years.

This year’s champions Leicester City are 25th on the list, with earnings of 247.7 million pounds, of which 93.2 million was won in this season alone.

Depending on where they finish clubs will next season receive between £100-£150 million each.

“Even teams that finish in the relegation positions now receive amounts that are eye-watering by anyone’s standards,” Andy Mackenzie, marketing communications manager for Spreadex, said in an emailed statement.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign combative Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Moenchengladbach on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.

British media reported Xhaka’s transfer fee at about 30 million pounds ($43.95 million), which would make the midfield enforcer Arsenal’s third most expensive signing behind Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

The 23-year-old Xhaka, who has 41 caps, played 36 times for the Bundesliga club, scoring three goals, and captained them to fourth place last season.

“I’m very proud to be joining Arsenal. I cannot wait to move to

Marcelo Alatorre of Mexico’s Pumas (left), fights for the ball with Bryan Cabezas of Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle, during a Copa Libertadores

quarter final soccer match in Mexico City, May 24. (AP)