Business · Companies · 8 hrs ago
Football clubs raise more than $1bn by selling future transfer payments
Football clubs in seven major leagues raised more than $1bn by selling future transfer payments over five years.
The transactions let clubs receive money earlier by selling financial institutions the right to collect payments that buying clubs owe for player transfers.
The cash can help fund new signings or investments, but it does not create new income: clubs are receiving money sooner than originally scheduled.
JPMorgan also arranged two financing deals worth more than €200m using future broadcasting payments from an unnamed Spanish club and a European top-division league.
Clubs can also use future sponsorship payments, such as stadium naming rights and sportswear contracts, to secure financing.
The cost depends on payment schedules, contract strength and the risk that payments may not arrive, so terms can differ between deals.
Clubs still have to follow the financial rules governing their competitions.
Football clubs have raised more than $1 billion by selling future transfer payments over five years, according to a JPMorgan report.
The transactions covered seven major leagues and turned money owed for player transfers into cash clubs could access early.
The arrangements let clubs secure funding for spending and investment, in exchange for a financing cost.
JPMorgan also financed future broadcasting and sponsorship payments, extending the practice beyond transfer fees.
The report says the transactions reflect the scale of the bank’s activity, not profits it made from them.
- Who
- Football clubs and financial institutions, including JPMorgan.
- What
- Clubs sold rights to future transfer payments to obtain cash early. The transactions exceeded $1 billion.
- When
- Over five years; the sources do not state the exact period.
- Where
- Seven major football leagues; the sources do not name them.
- Why
- To obtain cash for spending, new signings and investment before payments were due.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
JPMorgan arranged £800 million in debt facilities for Chelsea’s owners after their acquisition of the club.
Premier League clubs spent €3.6 billion on transfers, according to Transfermarkt data cited by JPMorgan.
JPMorgan helped Sporting Lisbon raise €225 million.
Football clubs’ transactions involving future transfer payments exceeded $1 billion across seven major leagues.
- Transfer-payment transactions
- More than $1 billion
- Leagues covered
- 7 major leagues
- Premier League transfer spending
- €3.6 billion in summer 2025
- Chelsea owners’ debt facilities
- £800 million
- Sporting Lisbon financing
- €225 million in October 2025