As transfer fees appear to climb with each passing year, financial fair play has become more crucial than ever, and it is something that all Premier League clubs must obey. They risk sanctions like as point deductions if they don’t, as Everton and Nottingham Forest have lately discovered. Other punishments include transfer embargoes, which Chelsea faced several years ago.
The Athletic have evaluated how much money each top-flight side can afford to lose this year before breaching Premier League financial standards. The accounting period for 15 of the division’s sides ends on June 30th, 2024/25. Exceptions are Liverpool, West Ham United, and Arsenal (May 31), as well as Burnley and Sunderland (July 31).
That deadline has become critical for top-flight teams, and the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) will limit how much each side can lose before exceeding them. This does not necessarily refer to how much they can spend on transfers, but rather how much they can lose overall.
20-16
The teams with the least to lose include Burnley and Aston Villa
Only one side is expected to need to turn a profit before their PSR deadline or risk breaking the rules, and that is Burnley. The Lancashire team was just promoted back to the first flight, but after bouncing among the top two levels for several years, they’ve lost a significant amount of money. According to The Athletic, the Clarets need to raise £20 million quickly to avoid punishment.
Aston Villa is ahead of them and the only team said to be really considering breaching the rules. After missing out on the Champions League this season, the club lost a significant amount of money and can only afford to lose £15 million in the future. Sunderland, Bournemouth, and Everton are expected to lose £33 million, £35 million, and £39 million respectively, ahead of Unai Emery’s team.
15-6
Arsenal and Liverpool feature here
Liverpool and Arsenal both rank in the middle of the pack. Leeds United are 15th, and the Championship winners have £42 million to lose before facing sanctions. Wolverhampton Wanderers (£56 million) and Brentford (£58 million) are just ahead of the Yorkshire side.
Despite winning the Premier League title, Liverpool are next, with a £75 million budget to lose. That has not kept the club from being active in the transfer market, bringing in some excellent players like Jeremie Frimpong. Fulham might lose approximately £77 million, while Nottingham Forest could lose £85 million. While they made it back into the Champions League and will receive a sizable sum of money as a result, Newcastle United can afford to lose £83 million.
The final three teams in this section are Crystal Palace (£90 million), West Ham United (£95 million), and Arsenal (£95 million). The Arsenal will have a busy summer this year, as the club sorely needs to enhance their squad if they are to win the Premier League trophy again. They are also the last side that can’t lose more than £100 million without violating financial fair play regulations.
5-1
No team can afford to lose more than Chelsea
Manchester United is the first team that can lose more than £100 million. The Red Devils recently endured their worst Premier League season, finishing trophyless and 15th in the rankings. As a result, they moved quickly to recruit Matheus Cunha and are apparently close to signing Bryan Mbeumo as well. Under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, they’ve implemented a variety of cost-cutting measures and can now afford to lose £141 million without breaking any financial laws.
Tottenham Hotspur recently won their first trophy in 17 years, defeating United in the Europa League final. It is unclear whether Ange Postecoglou will be the man to manage them in the future, but the club will be back in the Champions League next season and will have a lot of money. The Athletic predicts that they can afford to lose £277 million. That’s only £15 million less than Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s men endured a poor 2024/25 season, finishing third in the Premier League. They also lost out on any silverware, but will almost definitely spend a lot of money to make up for it this time. They can lose £292 million before breaking the PSR. Brighton & Hove Albion are in second place. The Seagulls enjoyed a successful campaign under Fabian Hurzeler and have maintained an extraordinarily sustainable approach over the years.
The club is known for buying unknown commodities for cheap and developing them into excellent players before selling them for huge profits. Their finances are currently very solid, and they can afford to lose up to £295 million before breaking any laws. Chelsea, however, has the greatest potential for defeat. The Blues have spent a lot of money in recent years, but they are still in good financial health right now.
Todd Boehly’s team returned to the Champions League this year after a hiatus, and they’ve already started recruiting for their comeback. They have signed Liam Delap and are connected with a number of other elite players this summer. They can afford to lose £300 million before breaking any financial constraints, and it is unlikely that they will face transfer embargoes again very soon.
How much money can each Premier League club lose before breaking financial rules?
Rank
Club
Amount of money they may lose
1
Chelsea
£300m
2
Brighton and Hove Albion
£295m
3
Manchester City
£292m
4
Tottenham Hotspur
£277m
5
Manchester United
£141m
6
Arsenal
£97m
7
West Ham United
£95m
8
Crystal Palace
£90m
9
Nottingham Forest
£85m
10
Newcastle United
£83m
11
Fulham
£77m
12
Liverpool
£75m
13
Brentford
£58m
14
Wolverhampton Wanderers
£56m
15
Leeds United
£42m
16
Everton
£39m
17
Bournemouth
£35m
18
Sunderland
£33m
19
Aston Villa
£15m
20
Burnley
-£20m
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