AliousNottingham Forest stand to reap a substantial financial reward should they secure a spot in the Champions League, buoyed by their impressive campaign thus far.
Under the stewardship of Nuno Espirito Santo, the team currently holds third place in the Premier League standings, boasting a seven-point cushion over sixth-placed Newcastle United as the season nears its final stretch. With England’s strong position in UEFA’s coefficient rankings, the Premier League is on track to claim five Champions League berths this term.
The East Midlands outfit is projected to pocket an additional £43 million in Premier League prize money based on their current performance. Finance expert Stefan Borson, in an exclusive interview with Football Insider, suggested that qualifying for the Champions League could net Forest at least £75 million in UEFA earnings next season, assuming they fare decently in the competition.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis is reportedly ready to sanction a significant summer spending spree to bolster the squad for European football, inspired by Aston Villa’s £69 million haul from reaching the Champions League quarter-finals this year.
Borson also highlighted the potential for Forest to boost their off-field earnings through enhanced commercial partnerships tied to their expected Champions League status.
Speaking to Football Insider, he noted, “We’re still in the dark about how tight they were on PSR this year—that’ll become clearer next week. But the Champions League is a goldmine nowadays. For a club like Forest, I’d estimate a baseline of £75 million in UEFA funds next season.
That’s factoring in four home matches, eight total in the league phase, and possibly two more in the playoff round. Winning the playoff could unlock a round-of-16 tie.
They’re unlikely to progress past that, but even so, we’re talking £75 million to maybe £90 million. Plus, there’s potential for a bump in commercial income on top of that.”
Here’s a snapshot of the Premier League table as of March 30, 2025:
3rd: Nottingham Forest – 29 games, 54 points, +14 goal difference
4th: Chelsea – 29 games, 49 points, +16 goal difference
5th: Manchester City – 29 games, 48 points, +15 goal difference
6th: Newcastle United – 28 games, 47 points, +9 goal difference
7th: Brighton – 29 games, 47 points, +6 goal difference
In transfer news, Football Insider disclosed on March 22 that Forest could snap up Brentford’s Yoanne Wissa for £15-20 million this summer, as the forward enters the final year of his contract.
The club had bids rebuffed for Wissa in January, but with attacking reinforcements a priority, they’re poised to make a strong push in the upcoming window.
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