Key Takeaways:
- More than twelve months have passed since Manchester City’s hearing concerning 130 Premier League financial breaches concluded, yet no verdict has been delivered
- The club reported their third-highest revenue in history at £694.1million despite experiencing a trophyless campaign under Pep Guardiola
- Jeremy Doku, Rodri, John Stones, and Mateo Kovacic are currently sidelined by injury, with Doku expected to miss the Christmas fixtures
Financial Fair Play Battle Remains Unresolved
Manchester City have confirmed they are still awaiting an outcome in their ongoing dispute with the Premier League regarding 130 alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations. The club, which recently published its latest financial report, highlighted that the independent commission reviewing the case has not yet reached a verdict, more than a year after hearings concluded.
In their report, City reiterated: “In response to the charges, the Club issued a public statement that it welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.
“As at the date of publishing these statements, the independent commission is still in the process of reviewing the matter.
𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂: #ManCity have reported revenues of £694.1m in their 24/25 annual report – the third highest in the club’s history – and a marginal loss of £9.9m. 🚨‼️ pic.twitter.com/LJFKOYjrEa
— City Report (@cityreport_) December 16, 2025
“Based on their evaluation of the Group’s prospects and viability, the Directors confirm that they have a reasonable expectation that the Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due within the 12 months following the approval of these financial statements.
“Consequently, the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.”
Financial Performance Defies On-Pitch Shortcomings
Despite enduring a rare campaign without silverware under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City recorded £694.1million in revenue during the period, marking their third-highest result since the club’s inception. This financial resilience comes even as the team navigates significant challenges both on and off the pitch.
| Season | Trophies Won | Total Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 0 | £694.1million |
Squad Depth Tested by Fixture Congestion and Absentees
Injury concerns continue to mount for the reigning English champions. Winger Jeremy Doku, age 23, has been ruled out of the festive fixture period due to a leg injury sustained recently. Pep Guardiola commented, “Jeremy is out, two or three weeks maybe. I think New Year and Sunderland but we will see.” The squad is further depleted, with Rodri, John Stones, and Mateo Kovacic also unavailable for selection.
Additionally, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush have departed to join their respective national teams for the Africa Cup of Nations, further stretching the team’s resources.
Carabao Cup Selection and Upcoming Fixtures
Guardiola has indicated plans to rotate his side for the Carabao Cup tie against Brentford on Wednesday, with James Trafford set to make his seventh appearance of the season in goal. The manager stated: “James is going to play and all the players who didn’t play are going to play, plus some who played today and some from the academy. After that, in three days we have West Ham.
“I’m not saying that getting to the semi-finals of the League Cup is not the priority, but normally when we achieve it it is because we have all the squad, no injuries and we can rotate, the team is good.
“When you are one game away from the semi-finals in one competition, you can take it because you never know when it’s going back.
“I have to find the balance but there are players with a lot of minutes and now we will travel and arrive late in Manchester with not much time to recover and with the physios and the doctors I have to see because the important game is West Ham. I’m sorry but West Ham is so, so important.”
