Leeds United Chat • Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Tuesday 27th July) - Anxiety over lack of transfer activity at Elland Road

Interesting article in the ShieldsGazette (Newcastle based paper). It says that due to Covid Everton could avoid punishment despite publishing combined losses in excess of £380million between 2017 and 2021. They suggest Everton are blaming Covid for them losing £170m (£103m last season and £67m for the part season). Everton have posted a loss of £120.9m for last season (2020/2021).

Now whether you believe Everton on the exact figures it does show how much revenue covid has cost to clubs and shows how we can't just splash cash around buying player after player.

I decided to delve deeper to try to see how Everton have lost so much money and looked at their transfer activity. They have spent a fair amount but also recouped a fair amount over the past few years, below is a breakdown.

2016/2017 £77.4m spent, £54.7m recouped (overall £22.7m loss)
2017/2018 £182.9m spent, £113.7m recouped (overall £69.2m loss)
2018/2019 £89.8m spent, £25.8m recouped (overall £64m loss)
2019/2020 £108.9m spent, £79m recouped (overall £29.9m loss)
2020/2021 £66m spent, £4m recouped (overall £62m loss)
2021/2022 £35.5m spent, £41.4m recouped (overall £5.9m profit)

So somehow Everton have recorded huge losses despite not once in the last 6 years having a transfer deficit anywhere near our £96m transfer defecit in 20/21 (and their £156m defecit over the 3 years, 2018 to 2021, in contrast to our £149m loss over the last 2 years). Yes their wages will likely have been higher but surely not enough to put them that much in debt.

A stark eye-opener to the fans who suggest we should have been spending more.

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