US investor buys 85% of Dundee United for £1m and sets sights on SPL
December 21 – A US investor has taken a controlling stake in Scottish Championship side Dundee United in a deal estimated to be worth £1 million.
Finance
European Leagues call for more equality in UEFA’s €3.25bn club shareout
December 19 – Europe’s major leagues have called on UEFA to alter their revenue distribution policy to bring about a more level playing field and prevent the gap between the haves and the have-nots from widening.
UEFA hammer AC Milan with €12m fine and European ban threat for breaking FFP rules
December 14 – As if their misfortunes on the field weren’t enough after being eliminated from the Europa League, AC Milan have been slapped with a massive €12 million fine by UEFA and threatened with a one-season ban from European competition for breaking financial fair play rules.
Top-flight arrival sees Brighton soar into the black with £50m turnaround
By David Owen
December 13 – Brighton and Hove Albion, the south-coast club who have adapted well to life in the Premier League since their promotion in 2017, have announced a profit for the first time in their recent history.
West Ham do deal with LLDC on expanding London Stadium capacity
December 13 – The fractious relationship between Premier League club West Ham and their London Stadium landlords appears to have reached a break in hostilities with the club agreeing to pay about £450,000 extra per season to use London Stadium if the capacity is raised to 66,000 from the current 57,000.
Ashley’s Newcastle sale battling for time against January transfer window
December 12 – The chances of Mike Ashley exiting Newcastle United before the January transfer window opens and Peter Kenyon re-entering Premier League club football are looking slimmer.
Life without Messi and Ronaldo: what next for LaLiga?
December 12 – As Spanish football manages an international transition from the individual appeal of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the KPMG Football Benchmark team has taken a look at the impact this could have on LaLiga’s business.
Jadon Sancho transfer value leaps €78m to top ranking of Europe’s hottest prospects
December 11 – Breakthrough Dortmund and England winger Jadon Sancho has increased his transfer value by more €78 million in the past three months, a bump of more than 800% since the start of the season. Any buyer would now have to pay almost €88 million to sign him.
PSG angrily denies Neymar and Mbappe will leave, Brazilian then signs QNB deal
December 10 – Two days after PSG issued a statement saying it would be selling neither Neymar or Kylian Mbappé to avoid any potential financial fair play sanctions, the Qatar National Bank (QNB) has announced star striker Neymar as its Global Brand Ambassador.
Kenyon in pole position for £300m acquisition of Newcastle United
December 6 – The seemingly annual Christmas talk of the sale of Premier League Newcastle United is now in full swing with former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon leading discussions in the US to create a consortium of buyers who will put up the £300 million needed to buy the club from Mike Ashley.
Man City, Real Madrid and Spurs top FIFA 2018 World Cup club payouts
By Paul Nicholson
December 5 – FIFA has released details of more than $209 million in payouts to clubs worldwide for use of their players at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Zamparini’s €10 sale of Palermo paves way for a new start, stadium and Serie A return
December 3 – Italian Serie B football club Palermo has been sold to an un-named London-based company for jut €10.
Zurich voters greenlight long-awaited new stadium complex despite opposition
November 28 – A slim majority of voters in Zurich has greenlighted the construction of a new 18,000 all-seat football stadium in the city.
Wolves, Mendes, Fosun and how the Premier League and English football is being gamed
By Paul Nicholson
November 23 – The controversial player signings that propelled Woverhampton Wanderers into and up the Premier League, and the influence of Portuguese agent Jorge Mende on the club have again been thrown into the spotlight after more emails from the Football Leaks cache were made public by Der Spiegel.
Beijing Guoan owner Sinobo Group builds in Europe with Slavia Prague stake
November 22 – Czech first division club SK Slavia Prague have sold a majority stake to China’s Sinobo Group, in a link that will see them work on a variety of initiatives with Sinobo’s Chinese Super League club Beijing Sinobo Guoan.