If you’ve ever wondered which Premier League team truly has the most fans, you’re not alone. In 2025, the data is clear: Manchester United stands out as the EPL club with most fans, especially when counting social media followings, global presence, and historical popularity. Below, CanLinkCup takes you through the who, the how, and the surprising facts behind these fanbases.
What metrics define “most fans”
To decide which club has the most fans, it helps to look at:
- Social media following (across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube)
- Global fanbase estimates (how widely a club is supported, regions beyond the UK)
- Engagement levels (digital, viewership, club recognition)
- Some measure of historical footprint (titles won, dominance, legacy)
Using those, here are the current standings among Premier League clubs in 2025.
Premier League clubs ranked by fans
Here are the top EPL teams by fan metrics in 2025 and what makes them dominate.
1. Manchester United – EPL With Most Fans
There’s little debate: Manchester United is the club with the most fans in the Premier League. Key facts:
- Across major social platforms, United have around 233.6 million followers total.
- Their reach spans the globe—Europe, Asia, Americas, Africa. Strong history with legendary eras, trophy haul, iconic players. occernoise.com)
- Even when club performance dips, United’s fan loyalty and brand power keep them at the top.
2. Manchester City
Coming in strong in second among EPL clubs:
- Approximately 179–180 million social media followers.
- Their recent success (multiple league titles, Champions League, star signings) has substantially grown their global profile.
3. Liverpool
Liverpool remain among the elite in fan count:
- They have around 166.7 million followers across major platforms.
- Globally respected due to history, consistent success in both domestic and European competitions.
4. Chelsea
Also high in the rankings:
- Chelsea have about 152.9 million social media followers.
- Their recent rebuilds, star transfers, and marketsence help maintain their large global fanbase.
5. Arsenal and Others
- Arsenal: around 114 million followers.
- Other EPL teams in top-tier fan followings include Tottenham Hotspur, etc. But none surpass United, City, Liverpool, Chelsea in 2025.
Why Manchester United leads
Several reasons why United are atop the list:
- Rich history: Decades of domestic and European success (Premier League titles, Champions League, etc.) built a brand that resonates globally.
- Commercial strength & marketing: Massive reach, merchandising, brand deals, global tours have grown their audience everywhere.
- Consistent visibility: Even in lean years, they remain in the news; iconic players, rivalries, heritage.
- Social media strategy: Huge numbers on multiple platforms; fan engagement, content output.
Potential challengers and trends
While United lead now, other clubs are closing the gap. Key trends:
- Clubs like Manchester City are climbing rapidly due to recent trophies and star players.
- Global expansion matters – clubs investing in those markets are gaining fans fast.
- Social media growth is less about just numbers and more about engagement: quality content, match highlights, behind-the-scenes, stories.
- Performance still muffles or boosts fan sentiment — winning titles helps a lot.
Recognizing limitations and nuances
- Social media follower counts don’t tell the full story: overlap between platforms, bots, inactive accounts.
- Fan loyalty vs casual viewers: someone following briefly is not same as a lifelong supporter.
- Local support and stadium attendance matters too, but is harder to compare globally.
- Club claims (about total global fans) are often estimates with varied methodology.
Conclusion
CanLinkCup can confidently say that Manchester United is the EPL club with the most fans in 2025 — by social media following, global reach, brand power, and historical legacy. Clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea come close, each with tens of millions of followers, but United remain on top.
If you’re curious to see how this evolves, keep an eye on:
- Recent transfer activity (big-name signings often bring new followers)
- Clubs’ global outreach programs
- Social media strategies, and
- Performance in big tournaments.
Want a breakdown for women’s teams, or which clubs are growing fastest in specific regions? I can pull those too.
