Ligue 1 leaders Lille pushed into Christmas sale to Callisto Sporting
December 23 – French Ligue 1 leaders Lille have been sold to a Callisto Sporting, a subsidiary of Luxembourg-based investment fund Merlyn Partners.
Finance
Bayern profits down by €40m but revenue buoyed by Champions League win
December 23 – German giants Bayern Munich – who will go for the treble of national, European and World titles in the same season at the delayed Club World Cup next February – have released financial results for the 2019/20 season showing a revenue drop €52 million.
49ers ready to touch down in Leeds with another 15%
December 21 – Premier League Leeds United are selling a further 15% stake to the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers in a deal that will reportedly value the club at £240 million, and take their stake to 25%.
LaLiga takes its digital business to market with €450m valuation
December 16 – Spain’s LaLiga is hiving off its digital product into a new company which it has valued at €450 million and is now being touted to private equity investors.
Palmeiras confident of 2021 profit but 2020 losses hit €21.7m and counting
December 17 – Sao Paulo giants Palmeiras have projected a profit of €1.6 million for the 2021 season, but will suffer heavy losses in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lille owner Lopez parts company with club as US money pulls rank, reports
December 16 – Gerard Lopez has reportedly sold Lille following pressure from major US creditors Elliott Management and JP Morgan.
Everton post second-consecutive £100m-plus pre-tax loss
By David Owen
December 15 – The sobering story of the 2019-20 Premier League financial results season has continued, with Everton posting a towering pre-tax loss for the year to end-June of £139.9 million.
OneFootball scales up with reported €50m Dugout deal
December 15 – OneFootball has acquired Dugout, one of the world’s largest digital football media businesses, taking over a key rival in a bid to expand its reach and digital footprint further.
LaLiga secures €67m loan for 11 clubs in landmark financing deal
December 11 – A loan of €67 million has been agreed with 11 clubs, most in LaLiga’s second tier, to help them financially manage their way through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bundesliga to offer stake in TV sales business as it faces €1bn drop in revenue
December 8 – The Bundesliga will suffer a drop in revenue of a €1 billion this season if fans remain shut out of attending matches because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to German Football League (DFL) projections.
Premier League agrees £200m loan to Championship clubs, and £50m gift to League One and Two
December 4 – After months of negotiations, the Premier League and English Football League, which covers the three division immediately below the top flight, have agreed a £250 million rescue package to help ease the financial burden on lower-league clubs caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Real Madrid stay €330k in profit but budgets for a €300m revenue drop
By Paul Nicholson
December 4 – Real Madrid have been the latest of Europe’s big clubs to outline the financial impact of the global pandemic on their finances – in Real’s case a €16 million hit on 2019/20 expected revenue and a drop in profit from €38 million last year to €330,000 this.
Barca to hold back player wages in Jan as covid crisis bites deep into club finances
December 4 – Barcelona’s financial crisis has taken a massive hit with Carlos Tusquets, the club’s interim president, announcing that player salaries in January will be postponed.
Club ownership: Are multi-club investors the way forward for football post-covid
December 3 – City Football Group and soft drinks brand Red Bull have blazed a trail in the area of multi-club football ownership, and in the pandemic era of no fans and an uncertain broadcast and sponsorship market, opportunities to buy professional teams have never been greater.
Haaland could break Neymar’s €222m record, Man Utd’s Fernandes puts on €20m of value
December 2 – Norwegian Erling Haaland’s goals for Borussia Dortmund have propelled him to the top of a table of €80 million+ footballers with the fastest increasing transfer valuations. He is followed by Manchester United’s mercurial Bruno Fernandes.