Financial management is playing an increasingly central role in football, influencing how clubs compete both on and off the pitch. The rise of private equity and state-backed ownership has widened the financial divide and increased pressure on others to remain competitive without falling behind.

As a result, football’s regulatory bodies have intensified their scrutiny of club finances, prompting renewed debate around ownership structures, legal disputes, points deductions, and salary caps — all aimed at preserving a level playing field.

Striking the balance between financial sustainability and on-pitch success has never been more difficult — or more important. To identify the clubs managing this trade-off effectively, Off The Pitch is once again crowning Europe’s most financially sustainable clubs using a weighted model based on EBITDA margin, Return on Assets (excluding exceptional income), and equity ratio across 245 clubs.

The ranking draws on data from the past three fiscal years (2021/22 to 2023/24), with greater weight given to the most recent period to reflect current performance and reduce the impact of one-off anomalies.

Less transparent clubs are excluded to maintain accuracy, and those relegated in 2023/24 are penalised to reflect the link between sustainability and sporting results.

Who sits on top?

This year, newly crowned Serie A champions Napoli top the list of Europe’s most financially sustainable clubs, climbing eight spots from last year’s ranking to reach number one. It marks a key milestone in the club’s long-term transformation, blending smart financial control with continued success on the pitch.

Few clubs have reversed their financial fortunes as effectively. In 2022, Napoli finished third in Serie A and reached the Champions League knockout stage, but still recorded a substantial €65.5 million loss before tax.

Just a year later, they delivered a historic Scudetto win, a Champions League quarter-final, and posted a record net profit of around €80 million — the highest ever recorded in Serie A.

The upward trajectory has continued, with Napoli now leading Off The Pitch’s ranking with a weighted score of 26.2, ahead of major clubs such as Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Celtic. The ranking is driven by an EBITDA margin of 30.6 per cent, a return on assets of 17 per cent and an equity ratio of 29.1 per cent.

At a time when many clubs are still striving to achieve financial sustainability, Napoli stand out as a model for how disciplined management and on-pitch ambition can go hand in hand. Perhaps even more impressive is that Napoli reclaimed the Serie A title in the 2024/25 campaign, showing that strong on-pitch performance combined with financial stability can lay the foundation for a truly sustainable future.

In total, six of last year’s clubs remain on the list — Napoli, Silkeborg, Molde, Manchester City, Fiorentina, and AGF Aarhus — with Danish club Silkeborg IF taking second place and Molde FK third.

In fourth and sixth place, Manchester City and new entrants Bayern Munich show that even Europe’s financial heavyweights can maintain sustainable models, balancing competitive ambition with operational control. 

Their appearances indicate that scale does not have to come at the expense of structure.

First-timers Clermont Foot, Elche, and Celtic also enter the top 10, each following a different path to financial sustainability. 

French Ligue 2 club Clermont Foot stands out with a remarkable return on assets of 62.9 per cent. Elche and Celtic both distinguish themselves with solid equity ratios of 45.5 per cent and 47.4 per cent, respectively.

Olympique Lyon have been relegated to Ligue 2 following a meeting with the French football watchdog, the DNCG, the LFP confirmed in an official statement.

The club was provisionally relegated in November, pending an improvement in its financial situation. The DNCG made clear at the time that failure to stabilise the club’s finances would result in relegation.

Lyon still have the right to appeal the decision and submit new financial evidence that could influence the outcome.

Encouraged by the meeting

Club president John Textor and football director Michael Gerlinger appeared before the DNCG on Tuesday. After the hearing, Textor told the press that he was encouraged by the meeting and insisted the club’s financial position had improved.

“You can see from the contributions of our shareholders that we have injected fresh capital – not just to meet the DNCG’s requirements, but also for UEFA licensing purposes. And with the positive development of the Crystal Palace sale, our liquidity has improved considerably.”

Eagle Football Group, which owns Olympique Lyon, has taken several steps to strengthen the club’s finances – including the sale of Textor’s stake in Crystal Palace on Sunday. However, these efforts have not met the DNCG’s criteria, and the relegation has now been confirmed.

EFL to allow club owners to invest in Scottish and Irish teams

The EFL is set to alter its multi-club ownership rules to allow members to purchase clubs in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and Irish Football League (IFL), The Guardian has reported.

Previously, owners had been prohibited from investing from clubs in Scotland and Ireland.

Recently, Leeds United owner 49ers Enterprises acquired a 51 per cent stake in Rangers for a reported fee of £75 million. The deal, which was completed in May, could have been delayed if Leeds had not been promoted to the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign.

Last week, Brighton owner Tony Bloom’s reported £9.66 million investment in Scottish side Hearts was approved at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).

New rules effective from 2025/26

Under the new regulations, which will take effect from next season, club owners and directors will not be able to have shares in more than one team within the EFL, Premier League, National League, Southern League, Isthmian League, and the Northern Premier League.

Crystal Palace could still be removed from Europa League

Crystal Palace could still be exempt from next season's Europa League, despite co-owner John Textor selling his stake in the club, as reported by The Times.

On Monday, the Premier League side confirmed that the American had agreed to sell his 43 per cent stake in the club to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.

The departure of Textor, who is also the majority owner of Lyon, was intended to help Palace comply with UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, which state that no individual can have control or influence over two clubs within the same competition.

Despite this, the sale of Textor’s stake took place after UEFA’s 1st March deadline for changes to a club’s ownership. Palace’s fate will be determined at a meeting of UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) on Friday.

Palace could challenge ruling

The CFCB could reportedly decide that the club will have to play in the Europa Conference League, which Palace could challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

If UEFA allows Palace to participate in next season’s Europa League, fellow English club Nottingham Forest will ‘likely’ raise the issue with CAS to allege that UEFA’s regulations have not been adhered to. Forest would stand to take Palace’s place, if they were ejected from the competition.

Beckett Layne Ventures close to acquiring 80 per cent of AC Monza

AC Monza are close to a takeover led by US-based venture capital firm Beckett Layne Ventures, according to Italian media.

The Serie B side are set to sell an 80 per cent stake to the new investors, which values the club at around €30 million.

Monza are currently owned by the family of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who purchased the club in 2018.

Could acquire 100 per cent

Fininvest, the Berlusconi family's holding company, has held talks with multiple interested parties.

The US group, which is being represented by former AS Roma executive Mauro Baldissoni, will have the option to complete a full takeover of Monza in the next year. Initially, Fininvest will retain a 20 per cent stake in the team.

Gareth Bale confirms interest in Cardiff City takeover

Gareth Bale has confirmed his interest in taking over Cardiff City in an interview with Sky Sports.

“We are interested in getting Cardiff,” Bale told Sky Sports.

The former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur star was recently linked with a takeover of the League One club, with reports saying that the 35-year-old is leading a consortium of investors.

“a dream come true”

“To be involved with an ownership group would be a dream come true. It’s a club close to my heart. It’s where I grew up and I would love to be able to be a part of growing Cardiff and taking it to the Premier League where it belongs.

“I know how amazing the Welsh fans and Cardiff fans are. It would be amazing to try and do something together.”

Ex-CD Leganes sporting director seeking reinstatement or €1 million compensation from club

Former CD Leganes sporting director Txema Indias has taken legal action against the Spanish club, according to a report from MARCA.

The current Real Zaragoza sporting director, who previously held the same position at Leganes from 2015 until earlier this year, is seeking reinstatement or compensation of around €1 million.

In March, the Madrid-based club informed the 53-year-old that they would not be renewing his contract beyond the 2024/25 season.

Could be reinstated before trial

MARCA has observed the lawsuit filed by Indias, of which LaLiga is also reportedly aware.

If Indias wins his case, this could cause complications for the contracts of both Leganes and Zaragoza’s sporting directors. He could even be reinstated before the case heads to trial.

Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor has agreed to sell his 43 per cent stake in the club to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, the Premier League club have confirmed.

According to UK media, the 78-year-old will purchase Textor’s shares in Palace in a £160 million to £190 million deal.

The sale is now subject to approval from the Premier League and Women’s Super League (WSL).

Johnson, who first bought the NFL’s Jets in 2000 for $635 million, also tried to purchase Chelsea when the club was put up for sale in 2022. The American previously served as the United States ambassador to the UK between 2017 and 2021.

Hopeful of retaining Europa League football

Despite qualifying for next year’s Europa League after winning the FA Cup, the South London club’s status in the European competition has been shrouded in uncertainty in recent weeks, due to the involvement of Textor with both Palace and Lyon.

UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules state that no individual may exert influence over two clubs at once within the same competition. In attempt to bypass the regulations, Textor and fellow Palace co-owner David Blitzer requested to place their shares in the club into a blind trust, however this was vetoed by UEFA.

Palace are now hopeful that Textor’s departure will enable the club to participate in next year’s Europa League.

Le Havre set for takeover

The French Ligue 1 club Le Havre AC are set for a takeover, according to French football publication Foot Mercato.

Although the identity of Le Havre’s prospective new owners has not been revealed, Foot Mercato reports that the club’s ownership have held talks with US organisation Blue Crow Sports Group.

The Houston-based group’s multi-club portfolio also includes Mexican team Cancun FC, Spanish side CD Leganes, Dubai Elite Falcon FC, and Czech club MFK Vyskov.

Le Havre have reportedly received interest from multiple parties.

Financial issues

The takeover comes ahead of the club’s meeting with France’s National Direction for Management Control (DNCG), which is slated for today, amid the team’s debt of €15 million.

Le Havre have received interest from multiple parties.

HSV are debt free ahead of Bundesliga return

Newly promoted Bundesliga side Hamburger SV are debt free for the first time in the club’s history, according to CFO Eric Huwer.

Speaking at HSV’s general meeting on Saturday 21st June, Huwer declared: "Net financial liabilities amount to zero at the end of this fiscal year. For the first time in documented history known to me, HSV is thus debt-free and self-determined.”

HSV have reduced debt liabilities by around €75 million over the past seven to eight years. The repayment of HSV’s stadium loan in 2024, which was due in 2026, was a key factor in the club’s financial results, which have been positive for the last four successive years.

Must capitalise on “momentum”

“We face major challenges, both in terms of sport and infrastructure,” Huber said.

“But we now have the foundation to invest sustainably - in our stadium, in our structures, and in a team that represents HSV. Promotion gives us momentum, but we remain vigilant. Now the real work begins.”

Premier League seeking clarification on Todd Boehly’s ties to Vivid Seats

The Premier League has contacted Chelsea, seeking clarification on co-owner Todd Boehly’s involvement with Vivid Seats, according to UK media.

The US businessman, who led a £4.25 billion takeover of the club with Clearlake Capital in 2022, is also a director and investor in Vivid, which has been listed by the English top flight as an ‘unauthorised ticket website’.

The ticketing platform allows users based outside of the UK to by and sell tickets, often at inflated rates. During the 2024/25 season, Chelsea home tickets were being sold on Vivid for up to £20,000.

Fans concerned

In March, the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust called on the Premier League to “act and investigate” Boehly over his connection to Vivid, in an open letter addressed to CEO Richard Masters.

The trust cited the 51-year-old’s involvement as a “breach of trust” and “a clear conflict of interest”.

Gareth Bale linked with Cardiff City takeover

Former Real Madrid and Wales player Gareth Bale is leading a consortium to buy Cardiff City, The Athletic has reported.

In May, the group sent a letter of intent to Cardiff’s current owner Vincent Tan, stating their interest in acquiring the League One side.

Although this initial approach was rejected, Cardiff-born Bale remains interested in investing in the club.

‘not involved’ in Plymouth takeover

Recently, the 35-year-old was linked with a US consortium looking to purchase Championship club Plymouth Argyle. However, Bale is not involved in the proposed takeover.

Towards the end of Bale’s playing career in 2022, Carfiff emerged as a potential destination for the winger after his departure from Real Madrid, before he opted to join MLS’ LAFC.

ALK Capital, the owner of Burnley FC, are aiming to raise around £150 million in order to fund a multi-club ownership model, according to Bloomberg.

The business publication says the New York-based group has held initial discussions with potential investors over ways to raise capital.
Earlier this month, The Athletic reported that ALK are in talks over a potential investment in Spanish club RCD Espanyol.

Last year, the US management firm revealed a ‘strategic partnership’ with Dundee, as part of a collaboration intended to ‘cultivate and promote player development’ between the Scottish side and Burnley.

Burnley to make Premier League return next season

ALK, which completed an 84 per cent takeover of Burnley in December 2020 for a reported £170 million, has overseen two promotions during the company’s tenure at Turf Moor.

Despite Burnley reporting a loss of £28.5 million for the 2023/24 season, the Lancashire club are expecting a significant uptick in revenue due to their return to the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign.

Everton make four new appointments to leadership team

Everton have announced four new appointments as part of the Premier League club’s leadership structure.

Nick Cox has been hired as technical director, as well as naming James Smith as director of scouting and recruitment, and appointing Chris Howarthto direct the club’s football strategy and analytics operations, and Nick Hammond o lead the club’s player trading activity.

Cox joins from Manchester United, where he has served as the club’s academy director since 2019, while Smith, who currently holds the position of director of scouting and recruitment at City Football Group (CFG), will join Everton in September.

Howarth has worked with 14 different European clubs throughout his career, with Everton owner The Friedkin Group acquiring his data consultancy Insight Sport as part of his arrival. Meanwhile transfer specialist Hammond most recently worked as a transfer consultant at Leeds United and Newcastle United, and previously served as director of football at Reading for 13 years.

CEO hails new leadership structure

All four new arrivals will work alongside Everton CEO Angus Kinnear, who recently joined the Merseyside club from Leeds United. “I’m delighted with the appointments of Nick, James and Nick,” Kinnear said.

“Their CVs speak for themselves - they are exceptional operators, hugely respected in the game and an example of the ambition we hold as a Club in ensuring the pathways and structures in place across our football operations are of the very highest standard."

NBA star Kevin Durant invests in Paris Saint-Germain

NBA star Kevin Durant has acquired a minority stake in French champions Paris Saint-Germain, through his media and investment company Boardroom, the club have confirmed.

The 36-year-old has signed a strategic partnership with PSG owner Qatar Sports Investments (QSI).

Durant’s previous involvement with PSG

Last August, the two-time NBA champion established a relationship with PSG via private equity firm, Arctos Partners, which holds a 12.5 per cent stake in the club.

Boardroom Sports Holdings, Durant’s investment vehicle, has now secured a purchase and strategic partnership agreement with PSG, formalising his involvement with the team.

Through this collaboration, Boardroom and QSI will partner on a range of commercial, investment, and content production initiatives.

VfB Stuttgart ‘set to terminate’ CFO’s contract one year early

Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart are considering terminating the contract of CFO Dr. Thomas Ignatzi, Kicker has reported. Ignatzi first joined Stuttgart in 2021, with his contract reportedly set to run until 15th August 2026.

According to the German publication, changes to the club’s executive board are ‘imminent’, while Ignatzi’s departure could be confirmed as early as Wednesday at a supervisory board meeting.

As part of a restructuring, the finance team is ‘likely’ to fall under the management of the club’s CEO Alexander Wehrle.

Further changes at Stuttgart

Meanwhile, Peter Schymon, deputy chairman on Stuttgart’s supervisory board, is also reportedly set to leave the club.

The 54-year-old represents German car manufacturer Mercedes Benz, which acquired a 10 per cent stake in the club in 2024. With Schymon leaving the company, Stuttgart will reportedly to discuss his potential replacement during their annual general meeting in July.

New York Jets co-owner Woody Johnson is leading the race to acquire John Textor’s 43 per cent share in Crystal Palace, The Telegraph has reported.

The American tabled a bid worth around £200 million for Textor’s stake in the club, which reportedly have a valuation of approximately £500 million.

The 78-year-old, who has owned the Jets since purchasing the NFL franchise for $635 million in 2000, previously tried to buy Chelsea in 2022.

Last week, UK media reported that Palace have received three offers for Textor’s stake, with the US businessman looking to sell his shares.

Palace awaiting Europa League verdict

The South London club, which qualified for next season’s Europa League after their FA Cup victory, are still awaiting a final decision from UEFA on whether they will be able to compete in the competition, due to Textor’s majority ownership of French club Lyon.

Palace face being removed from the Europa League due to breaches of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.
 

Juventus and Adidas ink ten-year, €408 million extension

Juventus have agreed a ten-year extension to their kit supply deal with Adidas, running until the end of the 2036/37 season and worth €408 million over its duration.

While the renewal has the same total valuation as the existing deal, it will run for ten seasons rather than eight, meaning the annual value is down by around €10 million.

Adidas has produced the Italian club’s kits since 2015, when the German sportswear brand took over from rivals Nike.

Aiming to ‘bring fans closer to the club’

“This renewal fills us with pride and testifies to the synergy between these two great companies,” said Maurizio Scanavino, CEO at Juventus.

“Together, we will continue to develop products, create unique experiences, ambitious projects, and contaminations that speak the language of new generations, with the aim of bringing fans even closer to the club, making it an integral part of their daily lives, their passions, their identity.”
 

Southampton owner open to new investment but has no plans to sell

Southampton owner Dragan Solak has said he is open to new investment, but has no intentions to sell the English club, during an interview with BBC Sport.

The Serbian businessman is the lead investor in Sport Republic, a British sports investment company that acquired an 80 per cent majority stake in Southampton back in 2022.

Sport Republic’s ownership portfolio also includes third tier French club Valenciennes, Turkish Süper Lig side Göztepe S.K., and FC Mali Coura.

Solak doesn’t rule out bringing in new partners in the future

Speaking to BBC Sport, Solak said: “I have never had any plans of selling the club.

“I might invite some partners to join me if and when we are promoted to the Premier League, because I think we'll need maybe [more investment].

“But selling was never on my mind, I was thinking much more about this 10-year project of how to develop the club commercially and financially so it is more robust and less dependent on TV rights deals.”

Paris Saint-Germain ordered to pay Adrien Rabiot €1.3 million

French champions Paris Saint-Germain have been ordered to pay former player Adrien Rabiot €1.3 million after a ruling from the Paris Court of Appeal, L’Équipe has reported.

The Marseille midfielder, who previously played at the Parc des Princes between 2010 and 2019, won his legal case, with his fixed-term contracts reclassified as permanent.

Back in 2018, Rabiot was axed from PSG’s first team squad until the end of the season, after refusing to extend his tenure at the club, prompting his ultimate departure to Juventus the following summer.

Rabiot’s lawyer reflects on court ruling

“This is an important decision because it punishes the club for the arbitrary and unjustified dismissal of the player,” Rabiot’s lawyer Romuald Palao told AFP.

“Furthermore, he was unfairly sanctioned by the club at the time, a sanction that should not have existed.”

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are interested in acquiring LaLiga club Gefate, as reported by The Times.

A potential takeover would see the US group adopt a multi-club ownership model. At present, FSG’s sports team portfolio also includes MLB’s Boston Red Sox, and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.

Earlier this year, FSG were linked with a takeover of Malaga, after previously pulling out of talks to buy French side Girondins de Bordeaux last summer.

FSG ‘evaluating opportunities’

Spanish businessman Angel Torres, who has owned Getafe since 2002, has previously stated his intention to leave the Madrid-based club, when the renovation of their Estadio Coliseum stadium is complete in 2027.

An FSG spokesman told The Times: “FSG routinely engages in conversations and evaluates opportunities across global sports, a common process to assess ventures that align with the organisation’s strategic priorities.”
 

Sheffield Wednesday handed transfer ban until 2027

Sheffield Wednesday have been handed a three-window fee ban by the EFL, preventing the club from spending money on transfers until 2027.

In a statement, the EFL said that the club would be sanctioned after ‘exceeding 30 days of late payments’ to players and staff between 1st July 2024 and 30th June 2025.

Wednesday have subsequently confirmed their intention to challenge the ruling.

The Championship club and owner Dejphon Chansiri recently received separate disciplinary charges from the EFL, after repeatedly failing to pay their staff and players on time for the months of March and May.

Former owner planning to “rescue” the club

Amid Wednesday’s ongoing financial difficulties, former owner Milan Mandaric has said he will try to buy back the club, in order to save it from being “destroyed” under its current ownership.

The Serbian-American businessman said: “It needs a big rescue now - all of us who love football and love Sheffield [Wednesday] have no doubt about that.

“I am going to definitely try to see [Chansiri] with my people and be very straight in telling him that he is going to destroy the club unless he lets new people like me get involved.”
 

Nottingham Forest receive boost in City Ground redevelopment plans

Nottingham Forest have received a boost in their plans to renovate the City Ground, after the local Rushcliffe Borough Council ‘recommended that planning permission be granted.’

The Premier League club are looking to demolish and rebuild the Peter Taylor stand as part of the redevelopment, increasing the stadium’s total capacity from 30,445 to 35,000.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, Forest and the council said: ‘Nottingham Forest has been in regular dialogue with Rushcliffe Borough Council, Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council regarding the redevelopment of the City Ground.

‘The parties can confirm they are working towards the Rushcliffe Borough Council Planning Committee date of Thursday 26th June to consider the application.’

Forest’s plans for further expansion

The Midlands club have previously revealed that they intend to start the redevelopment as soon as they receive the green light from local authorities.

In the future, Forest also plan to redevelop the Bridgford Stand, raising the stadium’s capacity to 40,000.
 

Malaga co-owner to propose €20 million capital increase

Malaga CF co-owner BlueBay is set to propose a capital increase of €20 million during the club’s general shareholders meeting next Thursday, according to Palco23.

The report also says the hotel franchise will propose an investment of €600 million to help revitalise the LaLiga 2 club.

BlueBay holds a 49 per cent stake in Málaga, while the remaining 51 per cent majority share belongs to Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani — currently under the control of the club’s judicial administrator, José María Muñoz.

Earlier this month, Spanish prosecutors requested 14-year prison sentences for Abdullah Al Thani, as well as his three sons, due to alleged misappropriation of funds, unfair administration, and the imposition of abusive agreements.

New investment to help “create a great club”

In a statement, BlueBay president Jamal Satli Iglesias said: "Our goal is to create a great club, with unprecedented future potential in terms of assets and sporting assets.

“Nothing, on a personal level, excites me more than making this great project a reality for my city , for the city where my children were born, and for the largest city, the best city, together with all the people of Málaga, fans, and supporters of our beloved Malaga.”
 

Monza set for takeover by US investors

A US consortium is close to completing a takeover of Italian club Monza, Calcio e Finanza has reported.

According to the Italian sports business publication, the takeover could be finalised in the next few days.

Monza are currently owned by the the family of Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister who purchased the Lombardi-based club in 2018.

Club eyeing Serie A return

In January, the club held takeover talks with Italian-American tycoon Mario Gabelli, however these ultimately broke down.

Following their relegation to Serie B at the end of the 2024/25 season, Monza are seeking an immediate return to Italy’s top flight.

FIFA has spent more than $50 million on marketing to promote this year’s Club World Cup, The Athletic has reported.

Football’s global governing body has increased its initial budget by ‘millions’ over the last month in order to help boost ticket sales for the competition.

FIFA slashed ticket prices for the Club World Cup earlier this month. For the opening match between Inter Miami and Al Ahly, prices saw a significant drop from $349 to $55.75. In spite of this, FIFA said that it anticipated “great attendances” throughout the competition.

Mixed bag of attendances

So far, match attendances have fluctuated during the first few matches of the Club World Cup. Although the Inter Miami vs Al Ahly fixture ultimately drew 60,927 fans, FC Porto’s matchup against Palmeiras was only watched by 46,275 at the 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium.

Similarly, Brazilian club Botafogo’s win against Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field delivered an attendance of 30,151, which is less than half of the venue’s 68,740 capacity.

Bayern Munich set for ‘€65 million a year’ sponsorship extension with Telekom

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are set to extend their longstanding main sponsorship agreement with Deutsche Telekom, according to German publication Sport Bild.

Deutsche Telekom’s current deal with Bayern was signed in 2022, and runs until the end of the 2026/27 season. The telecommunications firm’s logo has featured on the front of the club’s kits since 2002.

Bayern Munich are now close to finalising a five-year extension, which will be worth €65 million per season, and €325 million in total, up from around €50 million annually under the previous contract.

Emirates interested

Despite interest from Emirates in becoming Bayern’s new shirt sponsor, the club opted to renew with Deutsche Telekom after the company significantly increased its offer.

The latest extension marks the most lucrative sponsorship deal in German football, followed by Borussia Dortmund’s new principal partnership with Vodafone, which is reportedly worth around €30 million a year.

LaLiga president says his “goal” is to prevent future editions of FIFA Club World Cup

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has called on FIFA to scrap plans for future editions of the expanded Club World Cup.

During an event marking the 10-year anniversary of the centralisation of LaLiga’s audiovisual rights, Tebas said he aims to prevent future editions of the expanded, month-long tournament, which is currently being played in the US, and comprises 32 teams for the first time.

“My goal is to ensure there are no more Club World Cups, that’s very clear,” said Tebas.

Should be ‘eliminated’

Doubling down on his assessment of the revamped Club World Cup, Tebas continued: “There's no need for yet another competition that moves money to a sector of clubs and players and comes from somewhere.

“There's no more money here; we have to maintain the ecosystem and eliminate it. Keep it as it was before, which was a weekend. There's no way, neither in terms of dates, nor economics, nor maintaining the sustainability of football.”

Serie A launches betting rights tender from 2025 to 2029

Serie A has launched a tender process for the Italian top flight’s betting streaming and data rights for the next four years between the 2025/26 and 2028/29 seasons.

The league has submitted a request for proposals (RFP), inviting submissions ahead of a 30th June deadline.

Serie A is offering five packages for sports betting and data rights for the next four-year cycle. The tender also includes rights to the Copa Italia and Supercoppa domestic cup competitions.

Legal battle with Stats Perform

The return to market comes amid Serie A’s ongoing legal dispute with Stats Perform, which previously held the league’s betting data and video rights between 2021 and 2024.

Although the Stats Perform had provisionally been granted the rights for the next five years between 2024 and 2029, the company later pulled out of the deal, prompting legal action from Serie A.

Former Real Madrid and Wales player Gareth Bale is fronting a US consortium’s proposed takeover of English club Plymouth Argyle, as reported by The Telegraph.

The 35-year-old is part of a consortium that comprises a private equity group, as well as members of the Storch family.

While initial talks between the group and League One club have reportedly taken place, the discussions have yet to progress further.

Seeking additional investment

In March, Plymouth’s majority shareholder Simon Hallett agreed to a deal in principle to sell a minority stake, however this fell through last month.

The club was relegated from the Championship at the end of the 2024/25 season, as the team target a swift return to England’s second tier.

John Textor lists Eagle Football Holdings for IPO

Lyon owner and Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor has listed his company Eagle Football Holdings for an initial public offering (IPO) in the US, according to a report from Bloomberg.

In recent weeks, the American has been linked with selling his 43 per cent stake in Crustal Palace, with reports last week revealing that Palace had received three separate offers for his share.

Eagle Football has made a confidential S-1 filing, although the number of shares and their value have not been disclosed. In November 2024, Textor first announced plans for an IPO, with a company valuation of $2 billion.

Palace’s ongoing UEFA saga

By winning the FA Cup, Crystal Palace qualified for next season’s Europa League campaign, however the club’s status in the competition is currently unclear, due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership regulations. This is because of Textor’s involvement as the majority owner of Lyon.

UEFA’s rules state that no individual can have influence over two clubs in the same competition, meaning Palace could be in breach of the regulations. Textor’s recent offer to place his Palace share into a blind trust was rejected by European football’s governing body, after he missed the 1st March deadline, prompting him to look to sell his stake.

FC Barcelona set to eclipse €1 billion in revenue by 2027

Barcelona are on course to reach €1.1 billion in annual revenue by 2027, a forecast by Morningstar DBRS has revealed. According to the Toronto-headquartered agency, the LaLiga champions’ credit rating has improved from ‘stable’ to positive’.

This is due the club’s ‘improved financial performance’ over the last two years, as well as their projected return to the Spotify Camp Nou for the 2025/26 season, following the stadium’s reported €1.5 billion renovation.

The credit rating provider is also forecasting Barcelona to generate a gross operating profit of €90 million for 2025, and revealed that the club had a debt of around €1.5 billion in 2023.

"Expactation of further improvement"

Morningstar said: ‘The change in trend to positive from stable is supported by [Barcelona’s] improved financial performance over the last two seasons along with the expectation of further improvement thanks to higher revenues because of the club's return to the Spotify Camp Nou as well as effective cost controls carried by the club and supported by [UEFA] and LaLiga sustainability frameworks.

'Morningstar DBRS expects the club to deliver positive free cash flow and show deleveraging capacity.’

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office: Exemptions from 50+1 rules are no longer possible

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office has revealed its assessment of the 50+1 ownership rule within German football.

The 50+1 rule states that members hold a 50 per cent share in a club, as well as one more vote, granting them voting rights.

Although the Federal Cartel Office found no fundamental issues with the German Football League’s (DFL) rule, it has deemed that there can be no exceptions to the rule going forward.

The office’s CEO, Andreas Bundt, has called on the DFL to take three measures, including the removal of exceptions from the 50+1 rule. Although clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg had previously been exempt from the rule, this can no longer be allowed to happen.

Additional measures include ensuring that the values of the 50+1 rule also apply to the DFL’s own voting process, after former Hannover managing director Martin Kind voted in favour of DFL investment, going against instructions from the club.

DFL responds to assessment

Hans-Joachim Watzke, spokesperson for the DFL’s executive board, said: “The DFL Executive Board will continue to advocate for the protection and continued existence of the rule. We will discuss the Federal Cartel Office's assessment in detail following the review that has been ongoing since 2018 within the DFL Executive Board.

“One thing is clear: the entire league association, the DFL, will have to find solutions to jointly safeguard and strengthen the rule.”

Plans for new governance bill in French football opposed by some Ligue 1 clubs

The new governance bill proposed by the French senate last week has caused tension among some Ligue 1 clubs, L’Équipe has reported. Some clubs within France’s top flight are unhappy with the proposal, which would see media rights divide up more equally between teams in comparison to the current structure.

Having been adopted by the French senate, the bill is still yet to be approved by France’s National Assembly.
The French Football Federation (FFF) is seeking to reform the top two tiers of men’s professional football - Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 - which would see clubs become shareholders in a new entity that would oversee the two leagues, in place of the Professional Football League (LFP).

Last week, the French senate confirmed that FFF reserves the right to dissolve LFP if the two organisations cannot come to an agreement.

FFF president also draws criticism

FFF president Philippe Diallo has also been a source of criticism among some clubs, due to his perceived closeness to French senators.

Some teams reportedly believe that Diallo is responsible for the proposal for a more equal split in broadcast rights revenue among clubs.

WSL to expand to 14 clubs from 2026/27

The Women’s Super League (WSL) will expand to 14 teams from the 2026/27 season, the league has announced.

This follows a club vote during a WSL Football shareholders meeting on Monday, with the proposal now subject to approval from England’s Football Association (FA).

From next season, there will be no automatic relegation from WSL 1 to WSL 2. Conversely, the top two placed teams within the second tier will earn automatic promotion, while the third-placed team in WSL 2 will enter a relegation/promotion playoff with the club that finished 12th in WSL 1.

Earlier this year, WSL Football (then known as Women’s Professional Leagues Limited), which governs the top two tiers of English women’s football, was reportedly considering scrapping relegation between 2026 and 2030, in order to expand both WSL 1 and WSL 2 to 16 teams each. However, these plans were ultimately abandoned, following significant backlash from fans.

Help the game “reach its potential”

Nikki Doucet, CEO of WSL Football, said: “Over the past few months, WSL Football has led a thorough and robust, consultative process backed by research and analysis which explored multiple options that could drive the game forward and help it reach its potential.

“Our priority was to find a route that would benefit the whole women’s game pyramid, and we believe this next evolution of women’s professional football will raise minimum standards, create distinction and incentivise investment across the board.”

VfB Stuttgart open legal proceedings against former shirt sponsor

VfB Stuttgart 1893 are taking legal action against their former main shirt sponsor Winamax, the German club have confirmed.

In the statement, Stuttgart announced that they have now filed a lawsuit against Winamax with the civil chamber of the Stuttgart regional court, after the French betting brand failed to make payments despite ‘numerous reminders’ from the Bundesliga club.

Stuttgart said: ‘The filing was necessary and unavoidable as the partner had not made any payments, despite all out-of-court efforts by VfB Stuttgart 1893 AG. VfB Stuttgart 1893 AG is claiming the partner’s contractual payments from the contractual relationship ending on 30th June 2025.

€2.5 million in missed payments

The agreement, which was signed in 2023, and was set to run until the end of the 2025/26 season, was recently terminated due to unpaid fees.

Winamax owed Stuttgart around €2.5 million in missed payments.
 

French broadcaster Canal+ has submitted two offers to LFP Media for the new Ligue 1 channel, L’Équipe has reported.

Following the termination of the French Football League’s (LFP) five-year domestic rights agreement with DAZN after the 2024/25 season, which was reportedly worth around €400 million annually, the organisation recently confirmed plans to launch its own Ligue 1 channel.

This month, LFP launched its tender process for the new channel, which will be produced by LFP Media, and is set for launch ahead of next season, according to L’Équipe.

LFP Media’s two proposals from Canal+

The first offer from Canal+ would reportedly see the network air eight weekly Ligue 1 fixtures, as well as co-broadcasting the Sunday night game alongside the Ligue 1 channel. From the 2026/27 campaign, Canal+ would then broadcast all nine matches each fixture round.

As reported by L'Équipe, the alternative offer would involve Canal+ distributing the new channel, with this believed to be the preferred option for LFP.

Spurs take legal action against INEOS

Tottenham Hotspur are taking legal action against INEOS Automotive, having filed a claim in the London Commercial court.

The Premier League club initially signed a five-year partnership with the Sir Jim Ratcliffe-owned company in 2022, which designated the INEOS Grenadier as Spurs’ official 4x4 partner. However in March, the club agreed to terminate the contract after three years.

Earlier this year, INEOS reached a settlement with New Zealand Rugby (NZR), after the national rugby body initiated legal proceedings against the firm over an alleged missed first payment of 2025.

INEOS on termination of Spurs deal

In a statement shared by UK media, INEOS said: “INEOS Automotive has been a partner of Tottenham Hotspur since 2022, expanding on a partnership agreement that INEOS Group had in place with the club since 2020.

“We have a contractual right to terminate our partnership contract and in December 2024 exercised that right.”

Inter Milan announce early repayment of €400 million bond

Inter Milan have announced an early repayment of the club’s €400 million bond, which was due in February 2027.

The Italian club say that unpaid interest and additional amounts of €12.96 million take the total amount owed to around €412 million.

Although further terms of the refinancing were not disclosed, the 20-time Serie A champions revealed the bond will be paid off in the coming weeks.

Inter’s change in ownership

Last year, Inter were acquired by US asset management firm Oaktree Capital, after their previous ownership, Chinese company Suning Holdings Group, failed to repay a €395 million loan ahead of a 21st May deadline.

During Tuning’s tenure, the club issued an initial €300 million bond in 2017 order to refinance the club’s debt, which was set to mature in 2022. Five years later, Inter issued a second €415 million bond at a 6.75 per cent interest rate, which Oaktree subsequently inherited from Suning after taking over the club.

Crystal Palace have received three separate bids for the 43 per cent stake in the club owned by John Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings, according to UK media.

Among the bidders is a consortium led by Bejan Esmaili, a former executive at Morgan Stanley, and ex-Roc Nation lawyer Wajid Mir. This group had entered a period of exclusivity with Textor in January, however that ended without a final agreement. Jason Kidd, the head coach of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, had been a part of said consortium, before he alternatively opted to invest in Everton back in April.

Also included in the Esmaili and Mir-led group is Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler. Saudi businessman Haider and Manoor Syed, who were involved in the negotiations with Palace earlier this year, are no longer included in the latest bid for Textor’s stake.

Woody Johnson, the co-owner of NFL franchise the New York Jets, has also submitted a bid for Textor’s share in the club. However, his offer is worth ‘marginally less’ than the other two bids on the table.

Awaiting verdict on breach of UEFA regulations

Although Crystal Palace qualified for the Europa League after their FA Cup win, Palace are facing a potential ejection from the competition, due to Textor’s involvement with French club Lyon as majority owner.

The American businessman reportedly met with UEFA representatives in Switzerland recently, as the club await a decision on whether they are in breach of the organisation’s multi-club ownership rules.

European football market revenue rises to record £38 billion in 2023/24

The revenue of the European football market has reached a record high of €38 billion for the 2023/24 season, as per this year’s Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance. That figure marks an eight per cent increase on last year’s revenue of €35.3 billion for the 2022/23 campaign.

Meanwhile, the ‘big five European leagues - namely the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, and Ligue - 1 generated a combined €20.4 billion in revenue over the last year, eclipsing the €20 billion mark for the first time.

Premier League clubs delivered the highest revenue of Europe’s top five leagues, accounting for an aggregate revenue of £6.3 billion, which is up by four per cent on 2022/23. This was primarily driven by an increase in commercial revenue, which totalled more than £2 billion.

WSL clubs' revenue up 34 per cent

The report has additionally revealed that WSL clubs’ combined revenue rose to £65 million for 2023/24, marking a 34 per cent increase on last season.

Each club delivered revenue of more than £1 million for the first time, with Deloitte forecasting total revenue from WSL teams to reach £100 million for the 2025/26 campaign.

Burnley owners in talks to acquire stake in Espanyol

ALK Capital, the owners of Burnley FC, are in advanced discussions to acquire a stake in Spain's Espanyol, potentially expanding their portfolio in European football, according to a report from The Athletic.

Espanyol, currently owned by Chinese toy car manufacturer Rastar Group, has been seeking new investment since their relegation from La Liga two years ago. Despite their relegation, Espanyol managed to secure a return to Spain's top division and maintained their status by finishing 14th last season.

Should the deal go through, Burnley would join a growing list of Premier League clubs adopting the multi-club ownership model. This approach has been seen with Manchester City's owners, City Football Group, who acquired Girona in 2017, and V Sports, owners of Aston Villa, who have a stake in Real Union.

Previously had a 'strategic partnership' with Dundee

ALK Capital has previously engaged with Scottish side Dundee through a 'strategic partnership' and considered investing in Belgian club Kortrijk during Vincent Kompany's tenure as head coach.

Burnley's owner Alan Pace, who completed an MBA in Barcelona and has ties to the city, led ALK Capital's leveraged buyout of Burnley for £170 million in December 2020. Since then, NFL star JJ Watt has joined as a minority investor. Burnley have rerurned to the Premier League after finishing second in the Championship last season.

Bayern Munich deliver annual economic impact of €4.5 billion for local region

Bayern Munich deliver an annual economic impact of €4.5 billion for the city of Munich and state of Bavaria, a new study commissioned by the club has revealed.

Bayern’s awareness and advertising generates €3.6 million each year, making up 80.4 per cent of the overall figure, according to the report led by management consultancy firm SLC Management.

The study also found that Bayern generate an annual sales effect of €256 million, as well as an employment effect of €223 million.

In addition, a nationwide survey across Germany revealed that 60.1 per cent of people associated Bayern Munich with the Bavarian capital, the most popular response. This was followed by the club’s home stadium, the Allianz Arena, which was mentioned by 59.1 per cent of those surveyed.

‘Industry leader’ in social benefits

Reflecting on the study, SLC Management managing director, Professor Dr. Alfons Madeja, said:“The economic dimension of professional football in Germany cannot be reduced to high player salaries. The social benefits, especially for the respective city and region, can be demonstrated with some impressive figures.

“This is especially true for FC Bayern Munich as the industry leader.”

West Ham United sign ‘£12 million’ main sponsorship deal with betting brand

West Ham United have agreed a main sponsorship deal with Irish gambling brand BoyleSports for the 2025/26 season.

According to The Daily Mail, the one-year agreement is worth £12 million, and will see the company’s logo feature on the front of West Ham kits, replacing Betway.

This comes ahead of the Premier League’s ban on betting shirt sponsors, which takes effect from the 2026/27 season.

Club have ‘lost their moral compass’

The new partnership has drawn backlash, as West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta faces a potential lengthy ban from football, due to alleged spot-fixing during matches.

The Brazilian, who was first charged in May 2024, is currently awaiting the outcome of his trial, which will be revealed in the next few weeks.

In response to the East London club’s new deal, Will Prochaska, director of the Coalition to End Gambling Ads, said: ‘The modern gambling industry has poisoned football, and teams like West Ham have lost their moral compass.