By David Owen
April 28 – The value of long-term bank loans on Liverpool’s balance-sheet almost quadrupled in size in 2019-20 to stand at just under £197 million on May 31. But year-end cash was up by a similar proportion at £149.3 million.
By David Owen
April 27 – European Super League rebels Liverpool have added to the torrent of red ink gushing over the Premier League, posting a pre-tax loss of £46 million for the year to end-May 2020.
April 27 – Spotify owner Daniel Ek has expressed interest in acquiring Arsenal and is reportedly preparing a bid, along with club legends Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira.
April 26 – US bank and Super League backer JP Morgan has apologised for its role in the European Super League (ESL) fiasco, admitting that it misjudged the reaction from fans.
By David Owen
April 23 – Aston Villa owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens appear to have pumped a further £87 million into the reviving, but still heavily loss-making, Birmingham-based Premier League club in recent months.
April 23 – French Ligue1 club Bordeaux are on the brink of bankruptcy after American investment fund King Street decided to withdraw its financial support.
April 23 – Manchester City top a ranking of clubs with the most valuable squads by transfer value, ahead of local rivals Manchester United and Chelsea and more than twice the value of PSG.
By David Owen
April 22 – The 2019-20 European club football season was overshadowed, interrupted and ultimately elongated by covid. Even so, UEFA still managed to distribute well over €2.4 billion to the clubs which took part in its main competitions.
April 22 – American bank JP Morgan, who underwrote initial investment in the European Super League (ESL), have been hit with a downgraded sustainability rating as integrity issues have been raised over the bank’s role in the wake of the ESL collapse.
By David Owen
April 21 – The European football body UEFA has posted a deficit of €73.9 million for the covid-hit 2019-20 financial year.
April 20 – Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven are looking to raise €50 million in the coming months with billionaire Robert van der Wallen, a member of the supervisory board, driving the capital raise.
April 15 – US investors are not just looking for deals to buy clubs in Europe. Reports are that American money is positioning to take stakes in clubs in Mexico’s LigaMX and Australia’s A-League.
April 13 – French Ligue 1 Olympique Lyonnais have outlined plans for their players to take up to 25% of their salaries in OL Groupe shares rather than as cash.
April 13 – FC Barcelona are the world’s most valuable club with a valuation of $4.76 billion according to business magazine Forbes. Premier League Manchester United have dropped out of the top three in the ranking.
By David Owen
April 12 – The South London club Crystal Palace have announced a pre-tax loss of £58 million for 2019-20. This was after the accounting period was extended until the end of July. The Eagles are the third Premier League side so far to have adopted this business tactic, in spite of the inclusion of an extra month’s wages in operating costs for the period as a consequence.