Premier League clubs unanimously approve EFL funding proposal
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- Premier League's 20 clubs unanimously voted to approve a "new strategic partnership" proposal that will now be put to the EFL's 72 member clubs for a vote in the coming days.
- The funding deal is expected to last 10 years, with Sky News reporting the figure at £1.5bn — a number neither confirmed nor denied by the Premier League.
- The Premier League says the proposal is fully funded and is expected to come through a transfer levy, building on its existing commitment of a "record £1.6billion every three years" into the wider game.
- The EFL Board will review the full detail of the proposal, including its potential benefits and alignment with the long-term interests of its 72 clubs, before further dialogue with the Premier League.
- The funding row dates back to a 2021 fan-led review commissioned after the European Super League project and Bury FC's collapse; in March 2024 government officials warned a deal would be imposed if both sides failed to agree.
- Premier League resistance to handing over money was partly rooted in the reality that clubs would be funding rivals trying to replace them in the top flight, with some EFL clubs (e.g. Stoke City) having richer owners than Premier League sides.
Why it matters: The unanimous Premier League vote is a significant shift given long-running resistance from clubs wary of funding potential rivals — some EFL clubs, like Stoke City, are owned by investors wealthier than several Premier League sides. A 10-year commitment, funded by a new transfer levy, would lock in financial certainty for 72 EFL clubs while adding a recurring cost to top-flight transfer activity.
