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%.
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.
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.
December 16 – Gerard Lopez has reportedly sold Lille following pressure from major US creditors Elliott Management and JP Morgan.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.