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FourFourTwo
Sport
Joe Donnohue

Why Leeds United have been hit with £62m bill as transfer costs stack up

A Leeds United badge on a corner flag at Elland Road before the Carabao Cup First Round match between Leeds United and Shrewsbury Town at Elland Road on August 9, 2023 in Leeds, England.

Daniel Farke's Whites will be a Premier League club next season after successfully avoiding relegation back to the Championship.

The club take on Tottenham Hotspur in North London this evening with their hosts just one point above the drop zone and in need of a first home league win since December 6 last year.

Leeds' campaign has been a successful one, given the previous trials and tribulations of newly-promoted teams, securing survival with games to spare and reaching the FA Cup semi-final.

Leeds United's Premier League survival comes at eye-watering cost

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been an inspired summer signing (Image credit: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)

However, their success has come at a cost, as the club's survival means a series of payments will need to be made, to players, staff and other clubs.

Premier League survival bonuses are commonplace for sides likely to be competing near the bottom of the table and Leeds are no different.

According to the club's most recent set of financial accounts, an approximate £39.4 million is owed to players and management by way of bonus payments related to Premier League survival.

Additionally, Leeds have triggered approximately £22.7m in payments due to other clubs. When negotiating previous summers' incoming transfers, Leeds included clauses which meant the selling club would be owed additional fees, should the team avoid relegation, another common practice.

Around £13m of that relates to signings made last summer, meaning the likes of Udinese, TSG Hoffenheim, VfL Wolfsburg, Lille, Newcastle United, Lyon, Leicester City and AC Milan could be in line to receive additional payments, depending on which deals included survival clauses.

Premier League membership is worth upwards of £120 million per season to clubs. Each team receives an estimated £90m equal share payment, as well as potentially tens of millions in facility fees, paid for hosting broadcasted matches.

This is before taking into account matchday and commercial revenue, both of which are expected to be lucrative income streams based on 2024/25's financial results.

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