UEFA chief blasts West Ham and other ‘buy now pay later’ clubs over transfers

UEFA financial sustainability chief Andrea Traverso has warned English clubs about relying on "buy now, pay later" transfer installment structures. West Ham United is among the top six clubs carrying the highest transfer liabilities in England, reportedly owing £196 million in future transfer installments according to recent club accounts.

Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Arsenal are the only English clubs with higher amounts owed, contributing to nearly £3.5 billion in collective unpaid transfer fees across the Premier League. Traverso cautioned that deferred payments create a fragile financial model dependent on ongoing market inflation and liquidity.