Newcastle United have been fined €6 million (£5.2 million) by Uefa for breaching its financial sustainability regulations, while Aston Villa and Chelsea have also received penalties for overspending for the second consecutive year.
Details of the Fines
Following detailed submissions to Uefa's club financial control body (CFCB), Newcastle were found to have breached the football earnings rule (FER) and squad cost rules (SCR). Each offence resulted in a fine of €3 million, plus a suspended fine of €7 million. The club accepted a three-year settlement agreement.
Newcastle have not qualified for European competition next season after finishing 10th in the Premier League, but they reached the Champions League last 16 in the assessment period covering last season. The club have never breached the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules, which will be replaced by a version of SCR next season. Uefa's regulations are stricter, with an SCR threshold of 70% of revenue for player spending, compared with 85% in the Premier League. Newcastle's player spending is believed to have been about 75% of revenue last season, and the sale of St James' Park to subsidiary company PZ Newco Holdings Ltd was not approved by Uefa for accounting purposes.
Club Statements and Impact
Newcastle United stated: "Newcastle United has entered into a settlement agreement with Uefa following a breach of its financial sustainability regulations in the three-year period ending June 2025. Following an overspend in relation to Uefa's football earnings threshold, the club has worked closely and constructively with the club financial control body to swiftly resolve the matter. Accordingly, the club has accepted the three-year settlement, which includes a €3m financial penalty, with a further €7m suspended pending future compliance. In addition, Uefa has determined that the club will pay a further €3m due to breaching Uefa's 70% squad cost ratio (SCR) target in calendar year 2025. Newcastle United thanks Uefa for its careful consideration and is committed to full ongoing compliance."
The fine illustrates the limits of Newcastle's spending power despite being owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The club say the Uefa punishment will not force their hand in the transfer market this summer, but they have already sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £75 million and are expected to lose Sandro Tonali for about £100 million amid strong interest from Manchester City and Tottenham.
Penalties for Aston Villa and Chelsea
Aston Villa have been fined €22.5 million for breaching the 70% SCR cap for a second successive year but pay only €7.5 million initially, with the remainder suspended unless they incur further breaches in future years. After being fined €11 million last season, Villa have reduced their overspending to below 80% of the SCR limit. Chelsea have succeeded in reducing the size of their breach even further and were given a €3 million fine, €2 million of which is suspended.
Uefa said: "Regarding Aston Villa and Chelsea, which had already been sanctioned in the previous season, the CFCB first chamber took into consideration the improving trend in their squad cost ratio between 2024 and 2025 in line with projections submitted as part of their settlement agreement. As a result, part of the fine is conditional upon the clubs continuing to significantly decrease their squad cost ratio in 2026."
