AFC Bournemouth have filed their accounts for the year ending June 30, 2025, showing an operating profit of £28.3m, compared to an operating loss of £55.7m in the year previous, and a pre-tax profit following a pre-tax loss of £66.3million in 2024.
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The business review in the strategic report attached to the accounts said: “During the financial year, the Club's focus was on improving football performance in the Premier League, while ensuring that the business was on a stable financial footing.
“In tandem with support from the Club's shareholders, a strategy of targeted expenditure on playing squad assets while developing supporting infrastructure and improving commercial operations enabled the team to remain in the Premier League for the ninth season in the Club's history and to grow revenue.
AFC Bournemouth Performance Centre. (Image: Richard Crease)
“The Club remains committed to significant investment in its infrastructure. In March 2025, the Club completed the construction of a state-of-the-art training facility at Canford Magna, now the base for all football operations.
“Building on this milestone, the Club has also announced plans to expand and enhance Vitality Stadium, underscoring its commitment to improving both player development and the supporter experience.”
The club spent less on players in the year compared to 2024, while their income from player sales increased significantly.
Player registration costs for additions was £104.3m, down from £141m, with the net book value of player registration costs for disposals came to £33.3m, up from £1.3m.
The gain on player registration disposals is up to £91m from £0.3m in 2024, with amortisation costs up to £69.1m from £61.6m and staff costs increased to £158.4m from £136.2m.
Club revenue was up £20.9m to £181.7m, due in part to an increase of central funds from the Premier League, which went up to £148m from £135.6m due to their ninth-placed finish.
Revenue from overseas went up from £5.5m to £11.5m, as match income was slightly up to £6.7m from £6.5m and sponsorship revenue was up to £18.1m from £12.1m.
The club saying that sponsor income is reinvested into sporting infrastructure improvements at the performance centre and the funding of charitable organisations, like the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust.
Hospitality and events revenue also increased to £4.6m from £3.2m, with shop merchandise and other income also both up to £1.8m and £2.3m respectively.
The club also received increased other operating income of £17.4m up from £8.8m, with £15.2m of that from loan fees.
Bill Foley. (Image: Richard Crease)
The value of loans to Black Knight Football Club UK is now nil, with £77.5m initially loaned and the value of those loans standing at £89.8m the year before.
The report also acknowledged that the club is among the smallest in the English top flight: “Playing success remains a key risk affecting the Club, with the primary aim of maintaining Premier League status and qualifying for European competitions.
“During the financial year, the Club continued its philosophy of investment in staff and facilities, with the focus on the progression of playing and non-playing staff.
“The utilisation of increasingly advanced sports science, medical methodologies and more developed training techniques facilitated this mindset.
“As one of the smallest clubs in the top echelons of the English football pyramid in terms of stadium size and revenues, such improvements are seen as vital by management in order to continue to improve and differentiate.”
Bill Foley with Jim Frevola (Image: Richard Crease)
It also highlighted Bill Foley’s commitment to investing in the club, with the positive developments in the business recently showing this.
Director remuneration was down to £2.1m from £3.1m, with the highest paid director receiving £1.05m compared to £2.08m the year previous.
The club is owed £623,000 by Black Knight Stadium Ltd, the company founded when the club bought back their Dean Court home, and it owes the same company £228,000.
The Cherries also established a new company, AFC Bournemouth Women Ltd, to which the club owes £117,000.
Elsewhere within the Black Knight company umbrella, the Cherries owe stablemate Lorient £14,643,000 in player transfer fees and ice hockey team Vegas Golden Knights £69,000.