Newcastle United face UEFA sanction over financial losses
Newcastle United’s return to the Champions League has brought with it stricter UEFA financial regulations. While Premier League clubs are permitted to post losses of up to £105 million across three years, the European limit is only £52m.
According to The Athletic, Newcastle have “comfortably breached” that cap in their financial results for 2022–2025 and are preparing for a penalty similar to those recently handed to Chelsea and Aston Villa.
The club cannot count the profit from Allan Saint-Maximin’s transfer to Al-Ahli, which UEFA classified as a related-party deal due to both clubs’ links with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Nor can they include the sale of Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest, which UEFA regarded as part of a swap involving goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Newcastle reported a £38m pre-tax loss for the 2023–24 season alone, with even heavier spending in 2022–23 pushing overall losses higher. While revenues are expected to look stronger in the 2024–25 accounts, earlier shortfalls mean a fine is almost inevitable.
The £130m record sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool will count toward this period and ease the financial blow, though UEFA rules mean the profit will not be booked as a single lump sum.
Earlier this year, Chelsea were fined £27m immediately—with another £52m potentially due if they fail to meet a four-year settlement—while Aston Villa were ordered to pay £9.5m upfront, with up to £13m more at risk. Newcastle are now set to join them in facing sanctions.