Todd Boehly Richard Masters Chelsea
James Murray
Thu 5 June 2025 11:57, UK
Premier League clubs are considering selling stakes in their women’s teams after the Chelsea loophole has remained open, sources have told Football Insider.
The Premier League was looking to hold a vote to prevent clubs from selling assets to sister companies at the annual meeting of the 20 top-flight sides this week.
However, The Times reported on 4 June the proposal didn’t even go to a vote after it became clear there was not enough support in the room for the motion to pass.
It would have needed 14 clubs to have voted in favour of the proposal for the rules to be changed.
Chelsea sold their women’s team to owners BlueCo last summer for around £200million, helping them turn their previous £90million loss for 2022-23 into a £128million profit for 2023-24.
That came after the London giants sold two Stamford Bridge hotels to their owners in 2023 for a total of £70.5million to avoid a spending breach for 2022-23.
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES
Sources say multiple Premier League clubs are now also considering selling stakes in their women’s teams to boost their profit and sustainability (PSR) position.
Under the PSR rules, top-flight clubs can lose a maximum of £105million over a rolling three-year period.
Chelsea
Aston Villa could agree big-money sale after Chelsea twist
Aston Villa are one of several clubs to have faced PSR issues over the past couple of years after spending close to the allowable losses limit.
Villa are also exploring selling stakes in their women’s team to help them comply with the spending rules for 2024-25.
The West Midlands giants’ losses remained high in 2023-24 despite falling from £119.6million in 2022-23 to £85.4million.
Douglas Luiz, Tim Iroegbunam and Omari Kellyman all moved on before last year’s 30 June accounting deadline to help Unai Emery’s side avoid a spending breach.
Finance expert Stefan Borson told Football Insider Villa have a PSR shortfall again this season, with the option to sell their women’s team remaining on the table.
Chelsea and Aston Villa have breached financial rules
The Premier League’s spending rules are not the only issue facing clubs at this moment in time.
Chelsea and Villa are both expected to have breached Uefa’s squad cost ratio (SCR) rules in 2024.
Clubs in European competitions were required to keep spending on player wages and fees to 80 per cent of revenue last year.
Chelsea’s overall revenue fell from £513million in 2022-23 to £469million in 2023-24, while their wage bill dropped from £404million to £338million.
Villa posted a club-record revenue in 2023-24 after their turnover surged from £217.7million in 2022-23 to £275.7million.
However, the club’s wages increased from £194million to £252million across the same period.
For more Chelsea and exclusive news, follow us onFacebook or join our brand newWhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.
Related Posts