Brighton and Hove Albion top CIES spending list with €253m net spend
Brighton and Hove Albion have emerged as the biggest spenders in world football over the last two transfer windows, according to a new CIES Football Observatory study.
Finance
Atlanta smash MLS transfer fee record with $22m signing of Ivorian Emmanuel Latte Lath
February 5 – Fresh on the heels of Major League Soccer (MLS) allowing clubs to freely negotiate cash deals within the league structure, Atlanta United have gone and smashed the MLS transfer record, signing Emmanuel Latte Lath from English Championship club Middlesborough.
Manchester City spend more than EPL rivals combined in winter window
The January transfer window saw plenty of movement across the globe, headlined by Manchester City spending more than the rest of the English Premier League (EPL) combined as they attempted to patch holes in their increasingly leaky title defence.
Question marks over DAZN’s financial sustainability amid losses
January 30 – DAZN posted operating losses of $830 million for 2023, raising further question marks over the financial sustainability of the sports streaming giant.
Abramovich allegedly dodged tax payments through superyacht scheme
January 30 – Former Chelsea supremo Roman Abramovich allegedly dodged paying millions in taxes to British authorities through an elaborate fictitious superyacht hiring scheme.
Baller League competes €23m financing round with Apex and its athlete investors
January 29 – Sports investment firm Apex has invested in the rapidly growing six-a-side Ballers League, alongside a roster of its football stars – including Diogo Dalot, Diogo Jota, Mason Mount, José Fonte, André Silva, and Ferdi Kadıoğlu – who are participating financially in the league.
Court returns £3.6m to West Ham from LLDC’s profit share in sale of 27% club stake
January 29 – West Ham United have not had the happiest of times since moving from their much beloved Upton Park to the London Stadium, however, the club is potentially now £3.6 million better off after winning a court case against The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which owns London Stadium.
Football’s first million dollar woman surfs financial wave all the way to Chelsea
January 27 – The deal is done, a momentous moment for the women’s game. Naomi Girma has become the first million-dollar transfer in women’s football history.
Ambitious plans announced for Benito Villamarín Stadium revamp in Betis
January 23 – Real Betis have released new renderings of their ambitious plan to modernise the Benito Villamarín Stadium in Seville, with construction slated to begin at the end of the current season.
Europe’s top 20 clubs generate record €11.2bn in revenue for 2023/24 season
January 23 – The top 20 revenue generating clubs in world football reported a record €11.2 billion in the 2023/24 season.
More than €7.5 billion of that figure was generated by the top 10 clubs, with six of the top 10 playing in the English Premier League.
Revenue ranking sees Real Madrid break €1bn mark; Man City ahead of PSG and Man Utd
January 22 – Real Madrid have set a new world revenue record, becoming the first football club in history to pass the €1 billion mark in operating revenue for the 2023/24.
Wanted, superhero: Hollywood star debuts in England’s steel city
January 22 – The lure of English football from across the pond is as strong as ever, and Hollywood continues to be the go-to destination to find investors. Marvel director, Joe Russo is the latest to try his luck, in the steel city of Sheffield as he has joined the board of Championship side, Sheffield United.
Angel City FC co-founder Nortman poised to invest in Chelsea Women
January 21 – Kara Nortman, co-founder of the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Angel City FC, is reportedly considering a move across the Atlantic to invest in reigning English champions Chelsea Women.
Everton escape further points deduction for financial foul play
January 20 – Everton have avoided another points deduction with a complaint brought by the Premier League regarding spending rules being discontinued.
Top European women’s clubs see revenue growth break €100m as sponsor and UEFA money grows
January 20 – The top 15 women’s clubs in Europe have passed the €100 million revenue mark for the first time, with cumulative revenues of €116.6 million in the 2023/24 season – a 35% year-on-year growth.