Kieran Maguire: Newcastle United ‘provoke’ rivals as £25m Middle East deal agreed
Newcastle United will have to defend the value of their new £25million shirt sponsorship deal when Premier League rivals raise concerns.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about whether the value of Newcastle’s latest deal is considered fair.
According to The Times, Newcastle have agreed a new shirt sponsorship deal worth an estimated £25million a year with a Middle East company outside of Saudi Arabia.
It is a major upgrade on the £8million per season payment provided by current sponsors Fun88.
Newcastle insist that their new shirt deal will abide by the Premier League’s “fair market value” regulations, which were put in place in 2021 to stop the Tyneside club from agreeing disproportionate deals with Saudi Arabia to boost their revenue.
Maguire believes Newcastle will be able to defend the value of the deal because of their impressive 2022/23 campaign which could see the club reach the Champions League.
“The £25m deal that Newcastle have signed in shirt sponsorship will provoke comments from other Premier League clubs, but ultimately the value of the deal is linked to the number of eyeballs that will see the sponsor,” Maguire told Football Insider.
“With Newcastle having a very high chance of qualifying for the Champions League in 2023/24, that can only assist the club in defending the deal.
“It’s supposedly not with a company from Saudi Arabia either so that is further extending the arm’s length arrangement with the sponsors.
“I’m sure Newcastle’s team and advisors will have put together a strong defence for the value of the deal.“
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