Which Premier League Clubs are Most Followed on Social Media?
The destination of the Premier League trophy might be decided on the pitch, but there’s a lot more that goes into discussions around who the English top-flight’s ‘biggest’ club is.
Manchester City have dominated the league in recent years as Pep Guardiola’s side has swept all before them, winning a historic treble of Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League trophies in 2022/23.
Their rivals Manchester United and Liverpool have both enjoyed their own dominant periods in the past, while capital clubs Arsenal and Chelsea also lay claims to being the top dogs in London – and the rest of the country by extension.
As of March 2024, looking across the four biggest social platforms of Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, who comes out top of the league?
1st. Manchester United: 208.8 million total followers
Twitter/X.com: 37.7 million
Facebook: 83 million
Instagram: 63.3 million
TikTok: 24.8 million
United might not have won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in 2013, but it’s little surprise that they sit top of this list. Having dominated English football for two decades under Sir Alex, United have become one of the biggest sports brands in the world, picking up a truly global fanbase in the process.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent partial takeover at Old Trafford valued the club at over £5 billion and if the Ineos entrepreneur can bring the glory days back to United, their following will no doubt spread even further.
2nd. Manchester City: 142.8 million total followers
Twitter/X.com: 17.5 million
Facebook: 50 million
Instagram: 51.6 million
TikTok: 23.7 million
United’s noisy neighbours are some way off in second place on the list, although it is one that they have steadily climbed in recent years.
An Abu Dhabi-backed takeover of City in 2008 transformed the club from Premier League also-rans to title contenders and they are now the leading force in European football, with a star-studded squad guided by the tactical wizardry of Guardiola.
3rd. Chelsea: 136.7 million total followers
Twitter/X.com: 25.5 million
Facebook: 54 million
Instagram: 41.7 million
TikTok: 15.5 million
Chelsea’s global reach began in the 1990s when foreign stars such as Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialli and Gianfranco Zola lit up a side that was quicker than most to look to the continent for star power.
The tumultuous ownership of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich led to a glittering period for the west Londoners through the 2000s and 2010s. However, an American takeover forced by Abramovich having to cede ownership at Stamford Bridge due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has yet to replicate those successes.
4th. Liverpool: 132.8 million total followers
Twitter/X.com: 24.3 million
Facebook: 47 million
Instagram: 44.7 million
TikTok: 18.8 million
Liverpool fans often taunt their rivals that theirs is the richest history in English football, with Anfield having ruled over English – and European – football for much of the 1970s and 1980s.
The current crop are no slouches, though. Jurgen Klopp’s side have routinely been the biggest thorn in the side of Guardiola’s City, with star striker Mohamed Salah the leading light in Liverpool these days. Indeed, the Reds are the only side other than City to have won the league since 2017.
5th. Arsenal: 99.7 million total followers
Twitter/X.com: 22.2 million
Facebook: 42 million
Instagram: 28.8 million
TikTok: 6.7 million
The Gunners have been trophyless in the Premier League since their legendary ‘Invincibles’ season of 2003-04. With former captain Mikel Arteta at the helm, they have emerged as strong contenders in recent years as the Spaniard – a former assistant to Guardiola at City – looks to topple his former mentor.
