West Ham are set to unveil club record £100m-plus losses in their accounts this week, sparking concerns they are at risk of a PSR breach.
Hammers News exclusive
Speculation has been rife that the Hammers are the mystery Premier League club Kieran Maguire has referred to as being at risk of a PSR breach.
Maguire made the intriguing claim on the latest episode of The Overlap, prompting West Ham supporters to question whether it is their club who could be set to break spending rules and face possible sanctions.
Now, speaking exclusively to Hammers News, football finance expert Maguire has addressed those concerns.
Maguire says West Ham are not the mystery club at risk of breach
West Ham’s finances have been making headlines again over the last couple of years.
Reporting on the Hammers’ books has ramped up in the last week ahead of a big deadline on the horizon on Saturday.
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David Sullivan takes in a West Ham match from the directors' box
Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images
Last week Maguire suggested a West Ham financial bombshell was looming large ahead of the Saturday February 28th deadline for the club’s accounts to finally be submitted.
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West Ham, whose finances have been in a good state for several years by Premier League standards, usually submit their accounts like clockwork each year.
The Hammers usually file in the first two weeks of January and, in the past, by the end of December.
West Ham majority owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady in the director's box during the defeat to Crystal Palace
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
In the middle of last year, Hammers News exclusively brought confirmation from West Ham’s owners that record £100m losses were on the way in the club’s next set of accounts, which were due by the end of December or beginning of January.
But David Sullivan and the Hammers board have been holding off with the latest accounts despite publishing them in early to mid January in each of the last four years.
After three seasons in Europe on the bounce, a major trophy triumph and the club record £105m sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal, most are shocked at the prospect of West Ham announcing record losses.
The uncertainty left West Ham fans convinced Maguire was referring to them when he appeared on The Overlap suggesting one Premier League club was at risk of a breach.
Hammers safe for now but £100m losses loom this week
Especially after Maguire made a point of suggesting West Ham were delaying filing their accounts because they are on the verge of big losses.
Now those West Ham PSR breach fears have been addressed by football finance expert Maguire amid intense speculation around east London.
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West Ham owner David Sullivan
With fans continuing their season-long campaign of protests against the owners, the prospect of West Ham facing financial or even points sanctions would surely be the final nail in the coffin for relations between the board and the supporters.
Hammers News spoke to Maguire about the mystery club facing a potential PSR breach.
Abstract cover art featuring West Ham owner David Sullivan, the London Stadium and financial imagery
David Sullivan, London Stadium abstract cover art Credit: Liverpool FC/Tom Dulat/Getty Images
And the Price of Football author has confirmed to Hammers News: “It’s not West Ham!”
Although the club potentially at risk do play in claret and blue with the suggestion that it is Aston Villa.
Speaking on The Overlap’s Fan Debate, he said: “There’s a chance that Villa could be in breach of the UEFA rules.
“Both Villa and Chelsea breached those rules at the start of the season and they’ve had to follow a very strict business plan. There’s a danger of Villa failing that again, which could mean they’ll get another fine, rather than a points deduction.”
West Ham’s accounts were submitted on January 13th, 2025 on January 15th, 2024 on January 10th in 2023 and January 4th in 2022.
The 2026 filing appears set to come right at the death with the Saturday 28th deadline fast approaching, the same day West Ham play Liverpool at Anfield.
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