Sunderland post £1.1m operating loss in promotion season as accounts published | OneFootball

Sunderland posted an operating loss of £1.1m in their promotion-winning 2024/25 season, a campaign achieved without parachute payments, as newly released accounts confirm.

The filing covers their Wembley play-off triumph and marks a £7m improvement on the previous year. According to Sunderland Echo, turnover rose by £2.1m to £40.3m, helped by higher gate receipts and sponsorship and a £2m uplift from the EFL’s new Sky Sports deal.

Results were shaped by timing. Profit on player sales in the period was about £45m, reflecting exits for Jack Clarke, Jobe Bellingham and Tommy Watson, while much of the summer recruitment will fall into the next accounts. Since the period end on 31 July, net transfer fees payable total £47,346,348, and promotion bonuses pushed staff costs above £50m.

The club also invested nearly £10m in facilities. The campaign featured a last-second extra-time aggregate win over Coventry in the semi-final, followed by a 95th-minute Wembley winner from Watson to seal a top-flight return.

Debt to parent company Mercator stands at £19,820,000, with a further £25,216,788 owed to Akira BV, which accrues interest. While Premier League football will lift costs in the next accounts, revenue will also rise.

Source: Sunderland Echo