Hull City avoid sanction by selling starting goalkeeper after promotion to Premier League

Hull City, just promoted to the Premier League after their victory in the Championship play-off final against Middlesbrough, had to make a strong decision to avoid a sporting sanction. Faced with an overrun of almost £6 million on their Profit and Sustainability (PSR) calculation, the Tigers risked, under EFL regulations, a penalty of up to six points if no action was taken by June 30.

To return to financial balance, Hull recorded the sale of its starting goalkeeper Ivon Pandur to Rangers for 6 million pounds, as well as that of Albanian midfielder Aidon Shehu to Panathinaikos for 2.5 million pounds. Pandur, centerpiece of the season with 45 matches played and a decisive clean sheet in the final, therefore leaves the club reluctantly in a context of increasing power. Owner Acun Ilicali wanted to be reassuring about the management of this delicate period, saying: “We have exceeded the limits but we know how to manage these periods. »

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Ironically, if Hull had lost the final, such an operation would not have been necessary, because the debt thresholds in the Championship remain higher - but their accession forces the club to recalibrate its budget. Already limited to the loan and free agent market for the 2025/26 season following late payments, Hull must therefore deal with a reduced squad (certain executives such as Joe Gelhardt, John Lundstram and Lewis Koumas having already returned to their original club).

The club has not yet recruited any new players, therefore putting its return to the elite (the first since 2017) under the sign of financial prudence. Hull City begin the season against Manchester United on August 22. Note that the PSR rules will soon evolve towards a “squad cost ratio” system, limiting the payroll to 85% of the club’s income.