March 29 (Bloomberg) -- Soccer's biggest teams rose in value by an average 15 percent in the past year as France's Lyon climbed the most and Manchester United retained its No. 1 status, Forbes magazine reported.

United, ranked fourth by revenue, is worth $1.45 billion, up 6 percent on its 2006 value, Forbes said in an e-mailed statement today. Real Madrid is second with a valuation of $1.04 billion, followed by London's Arsenal at $915 million and Bayern Munich at $838 million.

United was one of 10 English teams in the top 25, which featured four from Italy and Germany, two from Spain, France and Scotland and one Dutch club. Half the English teams, whose league is the world's most-watched, have changed ownership since 2003 and two have held takeover talks this year. Chelsea and Manchester United have Chinese language Web sites.

``A big reason why these teams are attracting suitors is their growth potential in all of Asia, but China is the key,'' Salvatore Galatioto, president of New York-based Galatioto Sports Partners, said in the release. ``You have great brands with these soccer teams that have not been fully exploited.''

Lyon's value rose 65 percent to $343 million after it became the first French team to sell shares to the public in February. Ranked 12th, Lyon's only fellow French club on the list is Marseille, which said today it ended talks to be taken over by Canadian businessman Jack Kachkar.

United and Arsenal were joined in the top 20 by fellow English teams Chelsea, ranked eighth, 11th-place Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester City. Everton, West Ham and Aston Villa feature lower down.

Decline in Italy

The Premiership last year signed new broadcasting agreements in 190 countries that will almost double the league's television revenue to 2.3 billion pounds over three seasons from August.

The most valuable Italian teams slumped in value after being punished for their part in a match-fixing Scandal.

The value of A.C. Milan, which was docked eight points this season, fell 10 percent to $824 million. The six-time European champion ranked fifth, one place above Turin-based Juventus, which was demoted to the second tier. Inter Milan, top of the Italian league, is seventh on the list and Roma 15th.

Bayern Munich, winner of four European Cup finals, is Germany's top team, rated fourth with a valuation of $838 million. Schalke 04, currently top of the national standings, follows in 10th place, above Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund.

Barcelona, Spain's only other representative, is worth 22 percent more than last year after winning Europe's elite Champions League in May. It's worth $535 million, placing it ninth. Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers are Scotland's representatives, while Ajax of Amsterdam, a four-time European champion, completes the line-up.

                         Current Value  One-Year Change
                          ($ million)
1.  Manchester United         1,453          +6%
2.  Real Madrid               1,036          +2%
3.  Arsenal                     915          +9%
4.  Bayern Munich               838          +9%
5.  AC Milan                    824          -10%
6.  Juventus                    567          -18%
7.  Inter Milan                 555          +10%
8.  Chelsea                     537          +6%
9.  Barcelona                   535          +22%
10. Schalke                     471          +45%

To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Mills in London at at Rmills5@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: March 29, 2007 18:31 EDT