Over the past year, a number of financiers have increased their exposure to or entered the market viewed as almost risk-free due to the preferential treatment given to football creditors. That, along with low deposit rates, makes it an appealing way to get your money working for you.

Several sources Off The Pitch have spoken with say this has helped increase the competitiveness on the market and driven down prices.

Declining prices

With greater competition, prices on the market have in general either declined or remained stable – in spite of the increased risk from dealing with clubs in more precarious financial situations.

Richard Price, owner of New Century Finance, an intermediary that has been in the market for more than 20 years and works with UK merchant bank Close Brothers, says their prices have remained stable.

“We are not charging any more than before the pandemic. Our deals are 5.5 per cent to eight per cent depending on size and tenure,” he says.

And fewer player transactions haven’t meant a lower business volume due to the increased need for cash.

“We have not noticed a lower value of volume in the transfer market apart from the recent January window. However, we are still closing deals from the summer transfer window,” Price says.

Though Price primarily works with transfer receivables, he recently closed a £36 million media rights deal and has a number of fixed asset loan request on items such as floodlights and advertising boards.