There are signs that FSG’s vision of a virtuous circle — where success on the pitch powers commercial revenues, which can then be reinvested into the playing squad and the youth academy — is becoming a reality.
Liverpool won the title despite spending less than any other
Premier League club across the summer and winter transfer windows, according to
Transfermarkt data. Its use of sophisticated data analysis techniques to
identify undervalued players — such as midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and defender
Ibrahima Konaté, each signed for €40mn — means they have spent less on
transfers than all their major rivals since their last title win, in 2020.
However, keeping a successful group of players together has
required Liverpool to extend contracts and increase player wages. The result is
that its wage bill is now the second highest in the league.
That puts the onus on Liverpool’s commercial department to
increase revenues. Ben Latty, the club’s chief commercial officer, told the
Financial Times that his department’s role was to generate income to
“sustainably finance the pursuit of trophies”. “We’re already looking to the
future and working out how we can best maximise this success [winning the
Premier League] to continue our commercial growth and support further on-pitch
success,” he added.
Commercial revenues, increasingly important at a time of
slowing media rights growth, surpassed £300mn for the first time last year.
They are expected to rise again next season following Liverpool’s change of kit
supplier from Nike to Adidas. The club’s commercial partners include insurer
AXA, phonemaker Google Pixel and beer brand Carlsberg. This summer, players and
staff will fly to Japan and Hong Kong with the club’s official airline partner
Japan Airlines for the club’s pre-season tour.
Analyst Kieron O’Connor, who writes the Swiss Ramble
football finance blog, estimates Liverpool’s revenue for the 2024-25 financial
year is likely to surpass £700mn, on account of its participation in this
season’s Champions League. Liverpool failed to qualify for the 2023-24
Champions League.
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