Finance Archives - Inside World Football

Real Madrid top ranking of world’s most valuable clubs. Man City and Man Utd follow but €1bn behind

May 29 – Real Madrid may have played a season without significant silverware but they have retained their title of being the world’s most valuable football club, according to the 10th Football Benchmark Football Clubs’ Valuation: The European Elite report, with an Enterprise Value (EV) of €6.3 billion.

Another club with a poor year on the pitch but retaining a high value off it is Manchester United who are ranked third in the report with an EV of €5,051 billion,

Finance

Kansas City Current owners Ballard Capital buy Denmark’s HB Køge Women

May 30 – U.S. ownership of English Premier League clubs has become commonplace, and now women’s football is emerging as the next frontier. Ballard Capital, led by Angie and Chris Long (pictured) – owners of the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – has acquired Danish club HB Køge Women.

Finance

Former Bayern boss Oliver Kahn eyes Girondins de Bordeaux acquisition

May 28 – Former Bayern Munich CEO and legendary Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has formally submitted a bid to acquire crisis-stricken Girondins de Bordeaux, as the six-time French champions face a pivotal bankruptcy court hearing that could determine their future.

Finance

49ers Enterprises in inject £120m into Leeds Utd via share issue

May 20 – Championship winners Leeds United are set to benefit from a substantial £120 million cash injection via a new share issue by owners 49ers Enterprises, with funds earmarked for both the Elland Road redevelopment project and strengthening the squad ahead of their Premier League return.

Finance

Leicester City relegated but PSR rule break sees Fox hunt continue

May 21 – Leicester City, relegated from the Premier League, face an uncertain future after being referred to an independent commission over alleged profit and sustainability rule (PSR) breaches for the 2023-24 season, when they competed in the Championship.

FIFA

FIFA reports $2bn upward budget revision to $11bn for 2023-26 cycle

May 16 – Football Unites the World is FIFA’s slogan, but it is money that truly unites FIFA, and FIFA is about to have a whole lot more, announcing at its 75th Annual Congress in Asuncion Paraguay that its new budget for the 2023 to 2026 is $13 billion, exactly double the $6.5 billion of its previous 2019 to 2022 cycle.

Europe

UEC proposes 5% ‘Player Development Reward’ fund to distribute cash from UEFA’s club comps

May 12 – The Union of European Clubs (UEC) has proposed an overhaul of how UEFA distributes funds from its club competitions to better recognise player development. It’s chances of any immediate implementation or discussion are slim with UEFA having already agreed a new distribution cycle that is currently in its first year of operation.

Finance

Beckham and Neville increase Salford City stake, raise £15m+ and aim for bigger things

May 9 – Former Manchester United and England teammates Gary Neville and David Beckham are upping their stakes in League Two side Salford City, proving that not even the glamour of Miami or the Sky Sports studio can kill their appetite for a proper footballing challenge.

Finance

Football Benchmark to host multi-club ownership masterclass

May 8 – Football Benchmark, the strategic and financial advisory research group, is holding an executive masterclass in June that will examine the multi-club ownership (MCO) model that is transforming the global football industry.

Finance

US money comes to Reading rescue as Chinese owner leaves in disgrace

May 5 – Reading have announced an agreement in principle with US investor Rob Couhig’s company, Redwood Holdings Ltd., to acquire the club.

Finance

Vasco da Gama discover $236million debts following financial audit

May 1 – Brazilian giants Vasco da Gama have revealed debts totalling around $236 million, with an independent audit currently underway. The club promise a more detailed financial breakdown will be published by the end of June.

Europe

Levski Sofia record 2024 profit

May 1 – Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia continue to improve their financial results, with the club’s annual financial report for 2024 showing they made a profit of nearly BGN 15 million (€7.5m).

Finance

Leyton Orient aim to write East End rags to riches story under new US owner

April 30 – Based in East London, Leyton Orient have been a roller-coaster club over the past five decades, bouncing through the tiers of the English football pyramid. However, US media investor David Gandler aims to change that trajectory after acquiring a majority stake in the club.

Broadcast

Disney+ launches 4th season of Welcome to Wrexham as club value near £150m

April 30 – Disney+ has released the trailer for the fourth season of the Emmy award-winning series ‘Welcome to Wrexham’, chronicling Wrexham AFC’s unprecedented achievement of three consecutive promotions, a first in English football.