The global private credit market is set for significant growth, with projections indicating an increase of up to $300bn by 2030, according to new research by Wealth Club, a UK non-advisory investment platform for private market and tax-efficient investments.
Private credit was valued at $1.5tn in 2024, and more than half of fund managers surveyed expect this to rise to between $1.7tn and $1.8tn over the next five years. Over the past two decades, private credit funds have outperformed global high-yield bond funds by 5.5% annually.
Fund managers cited private credit as a defensive asset class due to its secured, priority-rank loans. Almost all respondents agreed on its defensive qualities, with 60% strongly agreeing and 40% slightly agreeing. Direct lending – loans negotiated directly between borrower and lender – is expected to attract the most investor interest, with 60% of managers prioritising this strategy over alternative approaches such as distressed debt, rescue financing, and specialty finance.
The survey also revealed that private credit is popular among fund managers themselves, with 60% allocating 10–25% of their personal investments to the sector and 35% allocating 5–10%.
Wealth Club currently offers 13 private markets funds from ten managers, with minimum investments starting at £10,000.
The research was conducted by PureProfile in June 2025, interviewing 20 private credit fund managers overseeing £450bn in assets under management.
