Manchester City receive seven-figure cash boost from UEFA ahead of summer transfer window spending | OneFootball

UEFA have handed Manchester City a bonus cash sum ahead of the summer transfer window for their co-operation with national team player releases in recent years.

Etihad Stadium bosses are looking towards the off-season as a crucial point in the club’s development and a vital period in transitioning what some believe to be the old guard into a new era at the club.

Much of that transition of squad will be overseen and worked upon by the club’s incoming director of football, Hugo Viana as the 42-year-old takes on the role from Txiki Begiristain – who will be departing Manchester City after 12 seasons.

And while there has been plenty of discussion around how Manchester City may finance vast investment during the summer window, particularly after a big spend in January 2025, a number of high-profile exits and sell-on clauses in contracts of former players could help.

But the latest monetary insight into Manchester City has revealed a special payment made to the club by European football’s leading governing body, as a reward for the organisation’s participation in recent international matches.

As confirmed by Reuters, Manchester City have been allocated around €5.17 million – the most of any UEFA club – as part of the European football governing body’s ‘Club Benefits Programme’, which aims to encourage national team participation by players.

It is detailed that a record €233 million has been distributed to 901 clubs from all 55 member associations for releasing players to the following national team competitions: the 2020/21 and 2022/23 Nations League, European Championship qualifiers 2022 to 2024, and Euro 2024.

Clubs are said to have received an equal share for each player released for each UEFA Nations League and Euros qualifying match, as well as a fixed amount per player per day during the final tournament.

In comparison to the amount received by the four-in-a-row Premier League champions, La Liga giants Real Madrid were allocated a total of €4.79 million, while Serie A’s Inter Milan were given €4.65 million.

UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin said in response to the news, “It is fantastic to see clubs of all sizes and levels, across the entire football pyramid, receiving financial rewards for their vital role in developing players who contribute to the success of our national team competitions – including the highly successful UEFA Euro 2024 final tournament.

“Every success of our competitions is a shared one, and this benefits programme is another testament to that principle … When football thrives, everyone benefits.”

Such is the widespread distribution of the cash pot that clubs throughout the football pyramid have also benefited, with a 10th-tier side, Yorkshire Amateur of England receiving a total of €7,300.