Good news from the Villa accounts, with an accompanying statement on Villa’s website which could be read like a House of Commons speech on Budget Day, with backbenchers shouting comments in the background.
All together now: Revenue UP! Sponsorship UP! Commercial revenue UP! And, Mr Speaker, a profit: “the club has made significant progress against its stated objective of delivering sustainable improvement both on and off the pitch.”
There is no disputing the claim of improvement. Villa’s next engagement is a Europa League quarter-final against Bologna, a third successive April in which they will play in the last eight of a European competition. When Villa fans arrive for the home leg, they will find that preparation work for the North Stand replacement has begun, to increase Villa Park’s capacity to more than 50,000 by winter 2027-28. The new Warehouse entertainment venue, adjacent to the stadium, has been finished along with further enhancement to facilities at the Bodymoor Heath training ground. Looking ahead, there is every reason to look forward to Europe next season too, Villa having occupied a Champions League-paying position since November.
This is where the risk lies. The “improvement both on and off the pitch” is undeniable. The word “sustainable” is the tricky bit. Villa have reported a profit of £17m for 2024-25, the season in which they played in the Champions League. Compared with a loss of nearly £90m in the previous year, and achieved while investing substantially in their facilities, that is a formidable headline improvement. The efforts to increase revenue at the club – while controversial for many fans, at least relating to ticket prices – have delivered big results, up more than a third to £378m. Many of the investments in facilities should help to sustain revenue at higher levels in future.
But the major contribution to this increase was their performance not only in qualifying for the Champions League, but reaching the last eight. Villa have followed other clubs by selling assets like the women’s team to other companies in the same ownership group, moves which also contribute to these figures, but cannot be made every year.
Next year’s accounts will give a useful comparison, by which time Villa’s story will have moved on again. It still looks more likely than not that Villa will be part of the biggest European tournament again come September. But these figures – while demonstrating the astonishing progress under the current owners – underline how important a Champions League place is to sustaining their giant ambitions, while limboing under the various financial regulations many around Villa feel treat them too harshly.
And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights
