Newcastle United risk the wrath of UEFA as they adhere to new financial rules for the 2026/27 season.
UEFA rules block the Magpies from making any profit from selling players to ‘associated party clubs’, which, in their case, are Saudi Arabian clubs.
In recent years, the Saudi Pro League has seen significant investment, which has resulted in many top players moving to the Gulf state to play football.
The high wages and transfer fees being offered by Saudi clubs have enabled many sides to offload unwanted or wantaway players while earning millions in the process. Yet for Newcastle, with its many Saudi connections and the fact it shares direct ownership with four top Saudi clubs in Al Hilal, Al Ahli, Al Ittihad and Al Nassr, it remains a largely untapped market.
Newcastle United unlikely to agree any more Saudi Pro League sales
The £21million sale of Allan Saint-Maximin to Al Ahli in 2023 remains the only piece of transfer business Newcastle have done with a Saudi club since the PIF-led takeover in 2021. The winger was sold at a prime age for a minimal profit, while the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa, in particular, have been able to recoup millions through player sales to PIF-owned Saudi Arabian clubs.
The reality is, Newcastle are hamstrung when it comes to selling players to Saudi Pro League clubs, most of whom have a connection to PIF or one of its subsidiaries. This is because UEFA rules, which Newcastle will be complying with, ban profit on all associated party player sales.
UEFA rules restrict Newcastle United as rivals take advantage
Newcastle will be complying with UEFA rules, which limit clubs to a 70% squad cost ratio, 15% less than the Premier League’s 85% being introduced next season. The ratio is calculated by taking the sum of the club's football-related costs and dividing them by its total revenue, with Newcastle operating at 72.6% in its latest accounts for the year ended June 2025.
When asked if UEFA’s rules on associated party player sales effectively block Newcastle from selling players to Saudi Pro League clubs, chief financial officer, Simon Capper, told The Gazette: “It doesn't stop us doing business. What it means is if we make a profit, it doesn't count.
“We sell a player that's worth a pound for £10million and make a profit of £9.999million in the Premier League but make a profit of zero in UEFA. We just don't get a profit.
“[Other clubs doing lucrative business with Saudi clubs] is some frustration for us. Our competitors can sell a player to a Saudi club for massive profit and bank that for their various compliance calculations.”
The frustration comes as Newcastle are set to face punishment for breaching UEFA’s financial regulations.
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