Report suggests Manchester City's owners derive advantage from Manchester United's £71 million transfer of Bryan Mbeumo.
City Football Group Boosts Revenue with Bryan Mbeumo's Transfer
City Football Group (CFG), the parent company of several football clubs worldwide, has received a financial boost from the sale of French footballer Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United. Although Mbeumo did not belong to a CFG-owned team, the sale has indirectly impacted CFG's finances through Troyes, a Ligue 2 club under CFG's ownership.
Troyes, who finished mid-table in France's second tier last season, held a sell-on clause entitling them to a percentage of the profit from Mbeumo's transfer. When Brentford sold Mbeumo to Manchester United for a reported fee exceeding £70 million in July 2025, a portion of that transfer fee went to Troyes due to this sell-on clause. As a result, CFG's revenue was indirectly increased through Troyes’ share of the profit.
The exact percentage or amount of the revenue generated for CFG through Troyes' sell-on clause remains undisclosed. However, this additional revenue comes at a time when several clubs in French football have faced financial difficulties in recent years. The sale of Mbeumo by Brentford could be particularly profitable for Troyes, given the financial challenges in French football.
It's worth noting that £700 million of CFG's revenue comes from Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, making the indirect revenue from Mbeumo's sale a significant contribution to CFG's overall income.
Meanwhile, the sale of Mbeumo is unlikely to have a significant impact on CFG's finances compared to the revenue generated by their majority-owned clubs. For instance, A €9 million windfall from Mbeumo's sale is not likely to make a substantial difference in CFG's £1 billion revenue, as reported recently.
In other football news, Olympique Lyonnais, a Ligue 1 stalwart, successfully appealed their demotion to the second tier this summer due to financial irregularities. The decision allows Lyon to remain in the top-flight, avoiding the financial implications that come with relegation.
As the transfer market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how CFG's portfolio of clubs, including Manchester City, benefits from such indirect revenue streams in the future.
- The financial boost City Football Group (CFG) received from Bryan Mbeumo's transfer to Manchester United has connections to European leagues, as Troyes, a Ligue 2 club under CFG's ownership, held a sell-on clause in Mbeumo's contract.
- Although Mbeumo did not belong to a CFG-owned team, his sale has indirectly impacted CFG's finances, and this revenue stream can be attributed to the business industry and sports, specifically football.
- CFG's revenue from Troyes' sell-on clause from Mbeumo's transfer may have played a significant role in offsetting financial difficulties faced by some clubs within French football, demonstrating the interplay between sports, finance, and business.
