Premier League Says It Remains "Committed" to EFL Funding Deal as Talks Drag On

Still no agreement

The Premier League says it remains hopeful of striking a long-delayed funding agreement with the English Football League, but as of this week the two sides still have not signed off on a deal that has been on the table for months.

Premier League clubs formally agreed to the offer in late July. A refreshed version was presented to EFL clubs again last week, according to BBC Sport, but the EFL has yet to accept it.

What is on the table

The proposal is a 10-year package that would send an additional 1.8 billion pounds to the EFL's 72 clubs, roughly doubling existing solidarity payments from the top flight. Part of the funding would come from an increased transfer levy on Premier League clubs.

In a statement issued after a Premier League clubs meeting on Thursday, the league said: "Since a fair and generous proposal was formally offered to the EFL last month, discussions have continued. The Premier League remains committed to concluding a football-led solution as soon as possible so additional money can flow to EFL clubs this season."

The EFL declined to comment.

The stakes of stalling

The two leagues are negotiating under a deadline they would rather not test. The Independent Football Regulator has the power to impose a funding settlement through its "backstop" authority if the leagues cannot agree on their own, something the Premier League is keen to avoid having decided for it.

The deal being discussed would also scrap the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals and add safeguards intended to stop the extra money simply flowing into player wages.

Where the fight really is

The dispute traces back to a fan-led review of English football launched in 2021, prompted by the collapse of the European Super League project and the financial collapse of Bury FC. The government warned as far back as March 2024 that it would impose a settlement if the leagues failed to reach one themselves.

The real sticking point remains parachute payments, the reduced-rate compensation given to clubs relegated from the Premier League. The EFL argues the payments distort competition in the Championship and encourage reckless spending by clubs chasing an immediate return to the top flight. The Premier League counters that parachute payments are essential, giving clubs and their owners the financial confidence to invest in the first place.

Until that disagreement is resolved, the wider funding deal is stuck in the same holding pattern it has been in for months.