Barca embrace blockchain with €80m issue of 40m digital fan tokens at €2 each
February 13 – FC Barcelona have become the latest club to embrace blockchain technology with an agreement with Chiliz to launch a ‘Barca Fan Token’.
Finance
Chelsea show €205m profit in transfer market as Villa post €167m loss
February 11 – Chelsea were the big financial winners in the summer 2019 and winter 2020 transfer market ending up their dealings €205 million ahead. In contrast Aston Villa showed a loss of €169 million, the second highest in Europe behind Real Madrid’s €181 million. Barcelona showed a €166 million loss.
Belgium’s top tier leagues report combined clubs losses of €87m
February 11 – Belgium’s professional clubs suffered a combined record loss of €87 million in the 2018-19 season, the Belgian FA (KBVB) has revealed. Anderlecht incurred the lion’s share with €25 million.
Richarlison sale and ‘dispute’ settlement help Watford to post £10m profit
By David Owen
February 10 – Watford, the Premier League club based in London’s commuter-belt and controlled by Gino Pozzo, have bounced back into profit after a 2018-19 season that saw them finish safely in mid-table and reach the final of the FA Cup.
MLS raises salary cap to $11.6m in 5-year deal with its players
February 7 – Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Association (MLSPA) have agreed a five-year collective bargaining agreement that will increase pay and improve conditions.
Premier League clubs fork out 98% of £230m winter transfer spend on foreign talent
February 3 – Premier League clubs spent close to £25 million on the final day of the January transfer window, pushing their overall spending to a total of £230 million, £50 million more than last year but still well short of the £430 million record of 2018.
OM losses mount with latest figures hitting €91.5m
February 3 – Olympique Marseille are starring down the barrel of financial disaster again after the accounts of holding company Eric Soccer revealed a deficit of €91.5 million for the 2018-2019 season, surpassing the mammoth €78.5 million loss of the 2017-2018 financial year.
Mourinho shops with Spurs’ cash as winter transfer window tops £185m
January 31 – Transfer spending by English Premier League clubs in January increased from last year’s winter window following two major deals on the penultimate day of business.
Irish government bails out FAI with promise of annual €2.5m loan, interest free
January 31 – The future of the embattled Irish Football Association (FAI) has been saved after the Irish Government agreed to double its funding and give the federation an interest free loan of €2.5 million annually for the next three years as part of a refinancing arrangement.
More Premier League red ink as West Ham announce £28m loss
By David Owen
January 29 – West Ham United, the East London club battling to avoid Premier League relegation, have become the latest English top-tier outfit to post a loss for the 2018-19 season.
Money talks: has Ashley hooked a real £340m buyer for Newcastle?
January 27 – The annual talks of a sale of Newcastle United by owner Mike Ashley have begun again with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) this time round being the buying party for £340 million.
DFL takes equity stake in Movez mobile app start up
January 27 – Germany’s DFL has moved beyond its traditional football business and acquired an equity stake in MOVEZ, a mobile app start-up for football skills evaluation.
FIFA TMS records 5.1% jump in player sales to $7.35bn for 2019
January 23 – Football clubs worldwide splashed out a record $7.35 billion (€6.63 million) on transfers in the men’s game in 2019, according to the latest FIFA report.
Red Bull gives you (money) wings, but Brøndby fans tell energy drink to fly off
January 23 – Energy drink giants Red Bull, which already owns clubs in Germany, Austria, the USA and Brazil, are now reportedly targeting Brøndby, one of Denmark’s biggest teams where there is fierce opposition to the move.
Financial blues at Chelsea and Everton show UEFA complacency is unjustified
By David Owen
You would never guess from the complacent tone of the new UEFA club licensing benchmarking report, but January 2020 may be set to go down as a turning-point in English, and therefore European, club finances – and not in a good way.