Premier League 2021-22 season preview: Fans of London clubs name their best and worst case scenarios and their players to watch August 13, 2021 For even the most jaded of football supporters, the start of a Premier League season is a special time. The arrival of new managers and players promises to transform fortunes, while last year’s disappointments have faded sufficiently to allow optimism to break out again, at least until the first round of games. So ahead of [...]
Grave impact of pandemic on English football laid bare by report but US investor appetite grows August 12, 2021 A report published by accountancy firm BDO has displayed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on English football clubs. The BDO report, which surveyed the finance directors from the top four leagues, found that more than 80 per cent of clubs accessed the furlough scheme, while 70 per cent deferred tax payments. The impact of [...]
£100m Jack Grealish: How most expensive signing in Premier League history compares to biggest transfers of all time August 5, 2021 Jack Grealish has become the most expensive signing in Premier League history after completing his £100m transfer from Aston Villa to Manchester City. Grealish is also the most expensive English player ever to be traded, and the eighth most expensive transfer of all time. The England attacking midfielder, 25, shone for England as they finished [...]
Socios: The blockchain-enabled fan token platform promising to unlock revenue from the global fanbases of sport’s most famous teams July 31, 2021 Football’s transfer market may have lacked headline-grabbing deals so far this summer but the same can’t be said for Socios. The platform, which sells “fan tokens” offering supporters the chance to influence decisions at their team, has instantly increased visibility with a clutch of major partnerships. Last week Socios announced the launch of an Arsenal [...]
European football market contracted by £3.4bn in first few months of Covid-19 pandemic, Deloitte report finds July 29, 2021 The European football market shrunk by 13 per cent in the first few months of the pandemic, according to analysis by Deloitte. Total revenue fell by €3.7bn (£3.4bn) to €25.2bn (£22.1bn) in 2019-20, the first decrease since the global financial crisis struck more than a decade earlier. Clubs suffered as leagues were postponed and resumed [...]
Crystal Palace report £58m loss for pandemic-hit 2019-20 season July 26, 2021 Crystal Palace have announced a £58m loss for the 2019-20 season as a result of Covid-19’s impact on football. The Premier League club saw revenue fall £13m to £142m, while operating expenses increased by £15m to £154m. The drop in income was largely due to the effect of matches in the second half of the [...]
Arsenal and Man City scrap overseas trips as Covid-19 hits Premier League pre-season preparations July 22, 2021 Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester City have had their preparations for the new season disrupted by issues relating to Covid-19. Arsenal were forced to cancel a pre-season trip to the US to compete in the Florida Cup alongside Everton, Inter Milan and Colombian side Millonarios. The North London outfit returned a number of positive [...]
Burnley sign spread betting and trading platform Spreadex as main sponsor on one-year deal July 20, 2021 Burnley have signed up spread betting and financial trading platform Spreadex as their main shirt sponsor for next season. The one-year deal will see the company’s sports fixed odds and spread betting arm, Spreadex Sports, replace Chinese brand LoveBet as principal partner. Spreadex is understood to be paying slightly less than LoveBet, whose £7.5m deal [...]
Newcastle takeover bid kicked into the long grass as arbitration adjourns hearing into Saudi Arabia-backed £300m offer July 20, 2021 The prospects of a £300m Saudi takeover of Newcastle United appear to be receding after a legal bid to overcome Premier League objections was delayed. An arbitration hearing was adjourned until next year “due to issues with the disclosure of evidence”, the club and league said in a joint statement. It means that Magpies fans [...]
Lionel Messi accepts 50 per cent pay cut to stay at Barcelona – but will still earn £59m a year July 15, 2021 Lionel Messi has ended speculation over his future by agreeing a 50 per cent pay cut to stay at Barcelona. The Argentinian superstar, 34, has been a free agent since his €138m (£118m)-a year contract expired last month. Messi had discussed a two-year extension but will instead sign for five years on a lower wage, [...]