Finance

Are we judging him on goals and assists while Chelsea are using him differently? Cole Palmer’s 2025/26 numbers are down, but the data reveals a clear tactical shift: more build-up involvement, fewer finishing chances, and the same elite threat profile. Injuries and a new role under Liam Rosenior explain everything.

Modern football has become an industry where financial architecture increasingly shapes competitive outcomes

Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada hailed the club's off-pitch transformation after squad costs fell due to a summer clearout of players. Despite bringing in Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens for a total of £225.5m, United were able to shave £14m ($18.9m) off their total wage bill due to player sales and sending others out on loan.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly lost an important sponsor worth millions to the club, with the company pulling the plug on a long-standing partnership with the north London club as the threat of relegation from the Premier League looms large. The sponsorship will terminate at the end of the season regardless of whether or not Spurs stay up and might not be the only casualty, as multiple other sponsors also consider their futures with the club.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has become the latest shareholder in Ligue 2 club Le Mans, a statement by the French club has revealed. Belgium and Los Blancos legend Courtois joins tennis icon Novak Djokovic and F1 drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen in their part-ownership of the project at Le Mans, who are looking to become a powerhouse in the game and have been compared to 'the French Wrexham'.

The world of football is increasingly influenced by money. Investors from the private equity sector in particular are playing an ever greater role in this. Takeovers of clubs such as AC Milan, Chelsea and Olympique Lyon show that investors see international football as an interesting growth market.

The world of football is increasingly influenced by money. Investors from the private equity sector in particular are playing a greater role in this. The takeovers of clubs such as AC Milan, Chelsea and Olympique Lyon show that these investors see football as a new market for growth. In the Cleats & Cashflows newsletter, we look at this development. We discuss the opportunities this offers clubs, but also the risks involved.

This article analyzes the strategic evolution of Wrexham AFC, positioning the club’s recent partnership with Apollo Global Management not just as a financial milestone, but as a replicable "Blueprint" for minor league investors. It argues that the Wrexham model, combining celebrity ownership, global storytelling, and eventual institutional backing, has permanently changed the playbook for sports investment.

In 2020, Wolverhampton Wanderers were conquering Europe. Today, they sit at the bottom of the Premier League table. How did it go so wrong, so fast? This deep dive exposes the structural cracks behind the scenes: from a broken "Mendes-dependent" transfer model and a neglected stadium to a staggering 117% operating cost ratio. Discover the full extent of the mismanagement that turned a top-six contender into a club fighting for survival.

Manchester United appear to have taken the next step in their Old Trafford regeneration plan. In 2025, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe announced a bold initiative to build an ambitious new 100,000-seater stadium on the same site as the current ground. After months of silence on this topic, the Red Devils have provided an update on this gigantic operation.

Explore a detailed financial analysis of a minority buyout scenario for Flamengo. Discover revenue projections, EBITDA valuations, and potential IRR of up to 33%. By utilizing a comprehensive financial model, the analysis highlights how transforming the club into a professional business entity can yield significant returns for global investors.

From traditional powerhouses to new-age behemoths, football clubs all find themselves in competition for the affection of supporters

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has been named as the most valuable player on the planet in the 2026 CIES' Football Observatory top 100 list. Barca's young forward has seen his stock continue to grow in the last 12 months, earning second place in the Ballon d'Or rankings, behind Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele. Bizarrely, however, the latest winner of the prestigious award has not been included in the top 100.

Barcelona’s long-running financial crisis has taken a dramatic twist after reports claimed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is weighing up a staggering €10 billion offer to buy the club. The proposal, which would theoretically wipe out Barca’s massive debt and reshape their future, has sparked huge intrigue - even though such a takeover remains a difficult hurdle to overcome.

We explore how private equity could play the role of a modern Medici, fueling Fiorentina’s sporting and commercial renaissance. With a loyal fanbase, a world-class academy, and Florence’s cultural power as its canvas, La Viola may be poised to paint a new masterpiece on football’s European stage.

Barcelona’s long-awaited Camp Nou rebirth has stretched a full year beyond schedule, yet the club will not enforce the €1 million-per-day penalty clause against construction firm Limak. Between bureaucratic hurdles, structural surprises, financial strain, and internal dissent, Barca now prioritises finishing the stadium over reclaiming hundreds of millions in fines as fans grow increasingly frustrated.

Arsenal have been named among the Premier League teams "reviewing their position" regarding a proposed salary cap that could be introduced to the competition and has been scheduled for a vote this week. But circumstances have changed for the Gunners after an executive at the Emirates Stadium who was in favour of the idea has left the club.