Saudi investor joins ranks of foreign owners taking stakes in Belgian amateur clubs
October 18 – Belgian amateur club KFC Diest have partnered with Saudi investor Fahad Al-Medlej, who previously chaired second-division club Al-Faisaly.
Finance
Sheikh Jassim drops $6.1bn Man Utd buy out. Sir Jim Ratcliffe bids for 25% buy in
October 16 – The long running saga of the sale of Manchester United has taken an unexpected twist with the news that Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has dropped his $6.1 billion cash bid to buy the club.
Juve reports losses of €123m as debt hits €399.9m and share price plummets
October 10 – Financially beleaguered Juventus have reported a loss of €123.7 million for the year ending 30 June 2023, an improvement of more than 50% on the previous year but still a huge deficit that has helped push net financial debt to €399.9 million.
Birkbeck and Football Benchmark debut special course in football management and finance
October 5 – Specialist football financial research and advisory group Football Benchmark is collaborating with London’s Birkbeck University to launch a special course in football management and finance.
Real Madrid top ranking of best paid players, Bayern and PSG follow
October 2 – Real Madrid have been revealed as the team with the highest wage bill in world football, sat at a staggering €11.5 million annual salary average, according to data supplied by Capology.
FSG raise up to $200m from Dynasty Equity for minority Liverpool stake to pare down debt
September 29 – Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group has completed a sale of a minority stake in the club to New York-based private equity firm Dynasty Equity of up to $200 million.
Ratcliffe restructures Man Utd offer to woo Glazers as Jassim tops out at £6bn
September 27 – British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reported to be preparing a “restructured” offer to speed up the takeover process at Manchester United as a deal to buy the iconic club drags on.
Inter reports reduced losses of €85m but says it is still within its UEFA Settlement Agreement
September 27 – Inter Milan are reporting losses of €85 million for the 2022/23 financial year on turnover of €425 million.
Chelsea raise $500m from new US investor as multi-club model targeted
September 22 – Premier League Chelsea looks to have become more about the money than the football. The club, bought by Clearlake Capital and fronted by US investor Todd Boehly for £4.25 billion, has raised another $500 million in cash from US investor Ares Management.
Besiktas reveals €232m debt mountain as directors call for unity and a change of direction
September 20 – Turkey’s Besiktas have announced colossal debts amounting to amounted to TL 6.7 billion (€232 million) for the year to May 31, 2023.
PSG face FFP questions over sale of players to Qatari clubs
September 19 – Just as they start their latest quest to land the elusive Champions League, Paris St. Germain are alleged to be under scrutiny yet again by UEFA – this time over their summer sales to Qatar.
Brazil’s Fortaleza to vote on opening up ‘commercial’ ownership model
September 19 – Fortaleza might become the next Brazilian club to adopt the SAF model (that allows for private investment and ownership) with a vote among members scheduled at this weekend’s extraordinary general assembly.
Moshiri agrees sale of Everton to 777 Partners
September 15 – Troubled Premier League club Everton, one of the sleeping giants of English football but punching well below their weight for years, are about to enter a new era after controversial majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri agreed to sell his 94% stake in the club to American investment fund 777 Partners.
Global leaders: Man Utd top highest value squad ranking, four clubs beat €1bn mark
September 14 – Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City have been revealed as having the most expensive squads in world football, rounding out an exclusive billion-euro club with PSG, according to the latest report by the CIES football observatory.
777 Partners close in on Everton deal as Moshiri runs for exit and questions asked of Wander
September 13 – Premier League Everton are close to finalising a sale to Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners for a sum understood to be about £100-150 million.