Premier League-EFL Deal: Birmingham Chairman Weighs In on Revenue Distribution
Birmingham City chairman Tom Wagner shares his thoughts on Premier League growth and sustainability. Read more.
“What I would say is that we'd love to have more revenue, and we'd love to see the pyramid strengthened...”
Birmingham City co-owner and chairman Tom Wagner emphasizes that any wealth redistribution deal between the Premier League and the English Football League should prioritize maintaining the competitive allure of England's top-flight. Wagner, who co-owns Birmingham with NFL legend Tom Brady, believes the Premier League has untapped potential to grow its revenue globally, which would, in turn, benefit the entire football pyramid.
Wagner suggests that the Premier League can increase its value without overburdening players or hiking ticket prices. Instead, he proposes distributing content to a broader audience, tapping into the vast global market that doesn't currently consume Premier League matches directly or indirectly. This approach could help grow the sport globally while preserving the competitive edge of top-tier clubs.
The revenue gap between the Premier League and the second-tier has ballooned to over £5 billion, prompting the EFL to seek a substantial offer from the Premier League to ensure sustainability. While West Ham United's vice-chairman Karren Brady claimed a "credible and generous proposal" was rejected, the EFL denies this, stating only that discussions briefly resumed. The Premier League has committed £1.6 billion to the wider football pyramid from its recent broadcast cycle.
The British government's newly created independent football regulator (IFR) will have the authority to impose an agreement between the Premier League and the Football League if no deal can be reached. However, it may take time for the IFR to become fully operational, leaving the parties to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement.
The English Football League (EFL) is still in negotiations with the Premier League to secure a substantial deal that would help make the football pyramid more sustainable. The revenue gap between the Premier League and the second tier has grown significantly, exceeding £5 billion ($6.74 billion). This disparity highlights the challenges faced by lower-tier clubs in competing with their top-flight counterparts.
West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady claimed in July that the Premier League had made a “credible and generous proposal” to the EFL, which was subsequently rejected. However, the EFL disputed this claim, stating only that discussions had briefly resumed. This disagreement underscores the complexity of the negotiations and the differing perspectives of the parties involved.
Birmingham City co-owner Tom Wagner emphasized the importance of maintaining the competitive allure of the Premier League in any potential deal. Wagner, whose team is seeking to join the Premier League elite, believes top clubs are entitled to protect their value. He noted that while his club would benefit from increased revenue, it shouldn't come at the cost of a less competitive top tier.
“What I would say is that we'd love to have more revenue, and we'd love to see the pyramid strengthened, but what we don't want to see is for whatever percentage we land on result in a less competitive top of the pyramid," the American told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference.
“From an international perspective, it's not for me to say what the right percentage is, but I think what we want is for the top of the pyramid to still have that enormous brand value, be highly competitive internationally, and I think that that will draw more attention to English football generally.
“Our hope and our sincere belief is that it will lead to a growth in the overall amount of revenues that filter through the pyramid and its entirety.”
The Premier League has committed £1.6 billion to the wider football pyramid from its 2022-2025 broadcast cycle, supporting clubs, fans, and players across the country. This investment aims to make football more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, promoting grassroots development and stadium improvements.
The British government's newly created Independent Football Regulator (IFR) will have the authority to impose an agreement between the Premier League and the Football League if negotiations fail to reach a mutually acceptable deal. This regulatory body will play a crucial role in ensuring a fair and sustainable financial structure for English football.
The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) may require time to become fully operational, leaving a window for the Premier League and EFL to negotiate a deal. This delay could impact the timeline for resolving financial distribution agreements between the two entities.
Birmingham City chairman Tom Wagner believes the Premier League can increase its value without overburdening players. He suggests exploring new revenue streams, such as global content distribution, to tap into untapped markets and grow the league's international appeal.
Birmingham City owner Tom Wagner says lower-league clubs "should not take too much" from top Premier League sides. pic.twitter.com/Yrg1XXLDdu
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) October 1, 2025
“When I say that it's going to grow, that doesn't mean that we have to play more matches or increase ticket prices - we can distribute to a broader audience,” Wagner added.
“I would posit that there are many billions of people every match that are not consuming it either directly or indirectly.
“And so by growing our product to reach more people and to reach them in new ways, different types of content, that then creates more opportunity to continue to grow the sport globally.”
“We want to create something that would benefit the entire city.” 🏙️
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) October 1, 2025
Chairman, Tom Wagner, discusses why the Sports Quarter is right for Birmingham + the excitement of creating world-class experiences, @LeadersBiz.pic.twitter.com/VD5lvforJu
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