Aston Villa exploring sale of women’s team as PSR pressure mounts | OneFootball

Aston Villa are considering selling their women’s team in a bid to comply with the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), according to the Athletic.

Villa posted combined losses of £195 million over the past two financial years.

Under the Profit and Sustainability Rules of the Premier League, clubs are allowed to make losses of up to £105 million over three years.

The Villains are reportedly exploring potential sale options for the women’s side to external investors or internally to a parent company-style entity.

Chelsea explored a similar loophole and reportedly balanced their books.

Villa have been assessing this possibility for at least 18 months, aware that their financial position places them at risk of breaching PSR.

Although investments in women’s football are typically exempt from PSR calculations, any revenue raised from a sale could offset substantial deficits recorded in recent years.

Chelsea set a precedent by selling their women’s team to their parent company for £198.7 million.

Critics like Simon Jordan blasted the Blues, referring to the move as ‘cynical’. The Villains will face the same bashing if they go through with it.

The move contributed to a pre-tax profit of £128.4 million and allowed Chelsea to comply with PSR.

They later sold an 8% stake to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. However, the Premier League and UEFA have raised questions over the valuation.

UEFA reportedly did not allow Chelsea to count the deal in its assessments.

Villa Women finished sixth in the 2023/24 Women’s Super League season and ninth last term, growing in stature under the Villa football project.

However, their future could now be up in the air as the club also prepares for a return to European competition via the Europa League.

The men’s team, led by Unai Emery, has achieved three consecutive top-seven finishes, but the financial strain is mounting.

The club reported losses of around £85.4 million for the 2023/24 season following a £119.6 million deficit in the previous year.

This number immediately wiped out the £300,000 profit from the 2021/22 campaign.