As the 17th richest club in world football in terms of income and the Premier League’s third wealthiest in terms of ownership net worth, money shouldn’t be an issue for West Ham.
But it seems it is going to be this summer.
Profit and Sustainability Rules have become the talk of the Premier League rather than the football and competition itself.
Comparatively speaking Manchester City and the Hammers are both enduring terrible seasons in the Premier League – way off where they were expected to be.
PSR is becoming the biggest factor dictating how and what clubs spend from Man City to West Ham.
The two clubs were polar opposites in the winter window.
Man City spent £180m on signings to try and arrest their slump. That was nearly as much as all the other 19 clubs combined.
West Ham fans have been furious with the lack of investment from the owners after appointing Graham Potter.
Only striker Evan Ferguson arrived and even he was on a straight loan.
Many hoped that might be because West Ham are keeping their powder dry in order to back Potter with signings in the summer.
Doubt has been cast over that being the case, though.
West Ham gave up £4m to borrow £65m of £69m owed to them by other clubs as they spent £155m last in a failed rebuild last summer.
PSR restricts clubs to spending based on their income and wages.
It has become hugely restrictive for ambitious clubs like Newcastle and Aston Villa.
And a top spokesman for the owners revealed PSR and a lack of European football will make it difficult for West Ham to spend in the summer.
But some Hammers fans have been hoping the huge ruling on the case between Man City and the Premier League over APT rules might open up the opportunity for West Ham to spend in the summer.
A tribunal comprised of Lord Dyson, Christopher Vajda KC and Sir Nigel Teare concluded the APT rules in place between December 2021 and November 2024 were “unlawful” and “void and unenforceable” following a two-day hearing at the end of last month.
Man City have been arguing the rules were unlawful and against competition law, while the Premier League maintained the opposite.
But the arbitration tribunal’s ruling makes clear without any doubt that they were not.
This decision has the potential to lead to other clubs claiming compensation for deals that were blocked or adjusted under APT rules between the end of 2021 and 2024, potentially causing many more headaches for the Premier League and its executive board.
Now West Ham have clarified the impact of Man City’s APT win over Premier League on club’s finances.
But Hammers fans hoping for some positive news will be left wanting.
In fact, the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners has exclusively told Hammers News the whole saga could actually cost the club money.
Hammers News asked the club’s owners whether the ruling on APT means anything for West Ham – be it positive or negative?
We also asked what the material impact on a club like West Ham would be in terms of finances and future spending.
“It means nothing,” the top senior West Ham spokesman revealed.
“Other than the fact we now might have to chip in to cover the Premier League’s legal costs of losing the case – and Man City’s.”
This is clearly a huge win for Man City. But as the Hammers’ owners have now confirmed, the reality is that it is a devastating blow for England’s top flight.
West Ham did not agree any major sponsorship deals between December 2021 and November 2024 – so there will be no compensation to claim.
Essentially because Man City’s legal costs will need to be covered by the Premier League – the cost is taken from the competition’s overall income, meaning the clubs ultimately pay an equal share.
