Following an investigation by UEFA into their ties with sister club Girona, Manchester City has been informed of their fate in the 2024–2025 Champions League.
Manchester City will be able to participate alongside sister club Girona in the Champions League for the first time thanks to UEFA’s clearance, albeit there will be restrictions on transfer activity between the two clubs.
Following Girona’s first-ever Champions League qualification last season, another team in the City Football Group, City’s role was called into question due to a restriction on ownership groups that hold several clubs.
Nevertheless, UEFA has given both clubs permission to participate in the expanded Champions League in 2024–2025 following “significant changes” made to Girona’s ownership structure this week. But until September 2025, the teams are not allowed to trade players with one another.
Girona announced earlier this week that three directors with ties to the CFG and City had resigned. The Times said that three solicitors from a Cheltenham-based law business took their place, and the story also stated that a portion of the CFG’s Girona shares were put into a blind trust.
The Club Financial Control Body of UEFA acknowledged in a statement that it has initiated procedures against City and Girona because of “a potential conflict with the multi-club ownership rule.”
Currently, they state: “Following the implementation of significant changes by the concerned investors in Girona FC (City Football Group), the CFCB First Chamber accepted the admission of Girona FC and Manchester City FC to the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.”
According to UEFA, City and Girona were able to demonstrate that “no one has control or decisive influence over more than one club” and that “no one is simultaneously involved, directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.”
Furthermore, it states that because the CFG “have transferred their shares in Girona FC to independent trustees through a blind trust structure established under the supervision of the CFCB First Chamber,” the changes “substantially restrict the investors’ influence and decision-making power over more than one club.”
“On an exceptional basis, the CFCB First Chamber accepted such blind trust for the 2024–25 UEFA competitions,” the statement continued. Throughout the 2024–2025 season, the trustees and the CFCB First Chamber will communicate on a regular basis.”
UEFA proceeds to verify particular limitations resulting from the modifications made to Girona’s ownership structure. Additionally, UEFA verified that “clubs will not transfer players to each other from July 2024 to September 2025.” The anticipated summer transfer of Savio from Troyes to City may be limited by these regulations, which also apply to loan and permanent transfers as well as “direct or indirect” transactions.
After signing with City, Savio was allegedly considering going back to Girona, where he had spent time on loan the previous season. However, that will not be possible for the upcoming campaign. It is also forbidden for the two teams to use any unified player databases or scouting efforts.
UEFA confirmed that the CFG shares in Girona that were placed in the blind trust will be returned as of July 1st, 2025.
