Man City charges: How much Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea 'could be owed in compensation' | OneFootball

The fallout from the years-long investigation is expected to extremely significant

Manchester City could potentially owe more than £527million to Premier League rivals if the club’s alleged financial breaches ultimately lead to compensation claims.

According to a report in the Independent, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham have preserved their rights to seek compensation under Section W of the Premier League's rules, with potential claims covering lost earnings and a wider "loss of chance".

The scale of City's financial advantage during the nine seasons covered by the allegations is central to the issue. The Athletic report that City spent £1.943bn on wages during that period – more than £100m above any other English club. Across the 17 Abu Dhabi-controlled years to 2024-25, City's combined wage bill is said to have reached £4.963bn.

City also received £559.6m in Premier League merit payments since 2009-10, while qualifying for the Champions League in eight of the nine seasons covered by the charges.

That naturally meant rivals missed out. Tottenham finished one place outside the Champions League on four occasions during the period, earning £28.8m from the Europa League in those seasons. City earned £141m from Champions League football across the same campaigns.

United could point to the 2011-12 and 2017-18 title races, while Liverpool finished runners-up in 2013-14.

According to an analysis of league prize money by OLBG, clubs who competed in the Premier League from 2011 until last season could be due a combined £527.9m in additional Merit Payments if City’s results and league positions were removed from the calculations.

The figures are based on a hypothetical redistribution of Premier League Merit Payments rather than an established compensation order.

Everton are estimated to be the biggest potential beneficiaries, with a difference of almost £29m. Manchester United and West Ham follow, with potential increases of £28.1m and £28.09m respectively.

Crystal Palace (£27.3m), Newcastle United (£26.9m) and Chelsea (£25.8m) are also among those calculated to have missed out financially, while Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal are each estimated to have lost more than £21m.

The analysis covers the period from 2011-12 to 2025-26, although figures for the most recent season are estimates because the Premier League has not yet published its official central payments.

OLBG calculated the potential differences by removing City from league standings and moving other clubs up one position where applicable. The resulting Merit Payments were then compared with the amounts originally received.

City's own central payments over the period are estimated at more than £2.04bn, with the club winning seven Premier League titles during the period covered. Their highest estimated annual central payment was £192.5m in 2025-26.

The analysis follows the ongoing fallout from the Premier League's 115 charges against City. The Athletic reported last week that that the club was found guilty on 114 of those charges, including alleged financial fair play breaches over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018.

However, the figures do not represent a confirmed debt owed by City to other clubs. Any compensation would depend on subsequent sporting, legal or financial proceedings and could involve claims beyond Premier League prize money.

OLBG state that potential claims could extend to other areas, including lost European qualification, sponsorship income and bonuses.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reacted to the leaked verdict by insisting that “nothing has changed” and “our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began”.

A statement read: “While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity.”