Crystal Palace agree deal with HSBC that paves way for new training ground September 11, 2026 Crystal Palace FC have agreed to buy the 27-acre HSBC Sports Ground in Beckenham, South London, in a move that will allow the club to significantly expand their training facilities. The HSBC grounds, which currently comprise cricket and football pitches as well as a pavilion, border Palace’s academy complex, which is itself across the road [...]
Manchester United deny financial motive behind nearly 700 season ticket bans September 11, 2026 Manchester United have banned 685 season ticket holders for reselling their seats but insist that the crackdown is not a cash-grab by the club. It follows an investigation by United chiefs that found “unusual activity” on the accounts of 1,617 members, who were asked to provide explanations. The operation caused outcry among some supporters, who [...]
Chelsea valuation doubles under BlueCo to £5bn as Boehly and Walter eye exit September 11, 2026 Todd Boehly and Mark Walter’s exit from Chelsea is set to see the business valued at around £5bn in another marked escalation of elite football club valuations. The valuation is double the £2.5bn price that saw the Boehly and Clearlake consortium beat off competition to buy the London club from Roman Abramovich in 2022. That [...]
Bath City tipped to be next Wrexham after non-league record £6m investment September 10, 2026 A consortium led by mobile gaming entrepreneur Andrew Stalbow has completed a takeover of Bath City FC in a £6m deal said to represent a record investment for non-league football. Stalbow, who helped create the Best Fiends and Angry Birds games franchises, heads an international group of investors which also includes executives from consultancy giant [...]
Inter Milan owner Oaktree keen to copy Chelsea BlueCo multi-club model September 10, 2026 Oaktree Capital Management wants to copy Chelsea owner BlueCo’s strategy by acquiring a sister club for Inter Milan. The global investment manager has allocated a budget of €25m-€40m (£20m-£35m) to buy a team from either the top division in Belgium or Portugal or the second tier in Spain, according to multiple Italian media reports. It [...]
AIG to acquire stake in Salford City Lionesses and expands partnership with Neville’s club September 10, 2026 Insurance giant AIG is set to become the first Fortune 500 company to invest in an English women’s football team after agreeing to acquire a stake in Salford City Lionesses. The move is part of an expansion of the partnership between AIG and Salford City, the club co-owned by former Manchester United stars Gary Neville [...]
Royal Antwerp case shows European sport ought to copy US interventionist approach September 10, 2026 Football fans digesting doom-laden commentary on the Royal Antwerp FC case on the legality of Uefa’s homegrown player regulations may be forgiven for recalling Brenda from Bristol’s reaction to the calling of general elections: “What, another one?” In recent years, legal challenges before European and national courts have sought to strike down various football regulations, [...]
Royal Antwerp: ‘New Bosman’ set to torch Uefa rules and spark mega class action September 10, 2026 European football faces an imminent legal bombshell likened to the Bosman Ruling that could scrap quotas for homegrown players and leave Uefa facing a hugely costly class action. The Royal Antwerp ruling has major implications for Uefa nations, potentially including England, who require clubs to have a minimum number of nationally-trained players, as well as [...]
Messi to buy 100 per cent of Valencia football team September 9, 2026 Lionel Messi is set to acquire 100 per cent of a Valencia football team as the football superstar looks to expand his portfolio in Spain. The former Barcelona player is reportedly close to agreeing a complete takeover of CD Eldense, a second-tier Spanish football team based in the autonomous community of Valencia’s Elda. Spanish outlet [...]
Bournemouth in spotlight after female fan complains to Kick It Out about searches September 9, 2026 Bournemouth are ready to review their stewarding arrangements after a female matchgoer made a complaint to anti-discrimination group Kick It Out about being searched by a male member of staff. The issue is thought to stem from the new perimeter fencing and entry gates installed around the Vitality Stadium as part of Bournemouth’s £90m expansion, [...]