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.
Finance
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.
Inter report €102.4m loss but 72% gain on digital platforms
December 1 – Inter Milan have reported losses of €102.4 million for the 2019/20 financial year, that covers the suspension of the season in March when the covid pandemic hit.
Serie B dips toe into new media and VC waters with new rights company
December 1 – Following the lead of their bigger brothers, Italy’s Serie B clubs have formed a new media rights company to manage the leagues marketing and broadcast assets.
Atlético Madrid show €1.8m profit but debt balloons to €999m
November 30 – Spain’s Atlético Madrid will report a net profit of €1.8 million for the 2019/20 season despite debt rising to a massive €999 million, according to reports.
West Brom’s Lai is latest Chinese owner looking to exit European club game
November 26 – The trend of Chinese investors exiting European club ownership looks set to continue if West Bromwich Albion owner Guochuan Lai (pictured) can complete a reported £150 million deal with a US consortium.
Spurs slump to £67m loss as Levy warns of another £150m if stadium stays shut
By David Owen
November 24 – Tottenham Hotspur’s reign at the top of the Premier League profits table is over, with chairman Daniel Levy warning that a further £150 million of revenue could be lost irrecoverably in the present financial year if the club’s shiny new stadium remains closed to fans.