A new study on injuries across Europe’s top football leagues has revealed that Juventus and Milan sit well above the Serie A average in both injury numbers and costs. According to the Men’s European Football Injury Index, presented in London by insurance brokerage group Howden, injuries have become a growing burden for Italian clubs—both in terms of time lost and financial outlay.
Serie A Among the Hardest‑Hit
In the 2024‑25 season alone, injuries cost Serie A clubs a combined total of €103.14 million in salaries paid to unavailable players. Across the last five seasons (2020‑21 to 2024‑25), Italian sides have collectively paid €495.23 million to injured players, averaging €99.05 million per season.
The report analysed injury frequency and severity across Europe’s “Big Five” leagues. Serie A recorded 3,967 injuries over the five‑year span, ranking fourth behind the Bundesliga (6,177), the Premier League and La Liga. Italian players missed an average of 20.15 days per injury—less than those in Ligue 1 (30.93 days) but comparable to the Premier League’s 21.53 days.
Juventus and Milan Lead the Injury Table
Two clubs stand out for consistently exceeding the league’s average injury rate: Juventus and Milan. Both have struggled to manage player availability over the last five years, with numbers steadily climbing.
Juventus reached a worrying peak during the 2021‑22 campaign, recording 91 injuries—an astonishing figure compared to the league’s average of 42 that season. While last year saw some improvement, the Bianconeri still ended with 56 injuries. Over the five‑year window, Juventus spent approximately €97.71 million on salaries for sidelined players, averaging €19.54 million per season.
Milan’s record was slightly better but still well above the league norm. Their figures fluctuated between 61 injuries in 2020‑21 and 51 in 2023‑24, rising again to 58 in 2024‑25—the second‑highest total in Serie A for that season. In total, the Rossoneri paid out €48.99 million to injured players over five seasons, around half of Juventus’ total expenditure.
A Growing Concern
The study also highlights a worrying upward trend in Serie A overall. Injuries rose to an average of 43 per team in 2024‑25—eight more than the previous campaign. With increasingly packed schedules, international demands and short recovery periods, Italian football appears to be facing a structural challenge in managing player health.
