Leeds United ‘to benefit’ from £450m ESPN deal if they stay in Premier League | OneFootball

Leeds United could receive a welcome cash boost if they stay in the Premier League, after a new overseas broadcast deal was agreed. The Guardian reports that ESPN have extended rights across South America and the Caribbean to 2031, with the package believed to be worth around £450m, roughly £90m a year.

Leeds and their top-flight rivals are said to have been informed at last Friday’s Premier League shareholders’ meeting. According to Matchday Finance, around 80 per cent of broadcast income is distributed to clubs, with roughly two-thirds of that shared equally among the 20 teams.

The agreement is said to represent a 25 per cent uplift on ESPN’s previous terms, and unlike domestic partners, the network can show Saturday 3pm kick-offs live. More than £2bn now arrives from overseas broadcast deals, compared with £1.67bn from Sky Sports and TNT Sports. Leeds could bank millions from this contract via their equal share and any merit payment tied to final position.

This kind of revenue falls within the money they can spend under the incoming Squad-Cost Rules, which replace Profitability and Sustainability Rules from this summer. SCR caps on-pitch spending, including transfer fees, agents and wages, at 85 per cent of football-related revenue plus profit or loss from player sales. UEFA’s own limits are tighter, with clubs in Europe capped at 70 per cent of total revenue.

Investment in infrastructure is excluded, significant for Leeds as they plan to develop and expand Elland Road, so that spend should not affect recruitment. A rise in central income would give Leeds greater headroom in the market. Owners 49ers Enterprises are not short of funds or intent, although recent PSR limits constrained them following two seasons in the Championship.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk