The stark financial disparities within professional football have been laid bare by Tottenham Hotspur's latest accounts, revealing that former executive chairman Daniel Levy's personal remuneration for the 2024-25 season exceeded the combined wages of the entire women's team and its staff.
Executive Pay Dwarfs Women's Team Investment
Financial documents show Levy, widely understood to be the highest-paid director, received £5.76 million in the year ending 30 June 2025. This represents a substantial 54% increase from his 2024 compensation and, according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, made him the Premier League's highest-paid director last season before his departure in September after nearly 25 years at the club.
Women's Team Wage Bill in Perspective
Meanwhile, Tottenham Women's total wage bill stood at £4.3 million last season, covering all 64 players and staff members. The actual salaries and bonuses paid to employees totaled £3.73 million – a 23% increase from 2024 – with social security and pension costs bringing the full expenditure to £4.3 million. On average, each team employee earned approximately £58,000 annually.
Despite this investment growth, Tottenham's women's wage bill remained lower than several Women's Super League competitors who have published their 2024-25 accounts. Brighton spent £5 million on wages, Manchester United £5.88 million, and Arsenal a substantial £11.3 million. Only Liverpool's £3.12 million wage expenditure fell below Tottenham's figure.
Financial Performance and On-Pitch Progress
The women's team recorded a £2.83 million post-tax loss, similar to their £2.73 million deficit in 2024. This occurred despite impressive commercial growth, with income more than doubling from £1.46 million to £3.34 million, demonstrating significant off-field development. Broadcast revenue remained steady at £267,414, but prize money decreased by approximately £600,000.
During the season covered by these accounts, Tottenham Women finished 11th in the WSL. However, the current campaign has seen dramatic on-pitch improvement, with the team sitting fifth with three games remaining and nearly doubling their league victory tally from last term.
Strategic Repositioning and Future Investment
Sources indicate women's football has been repositioned as a strategic priority at Tottenham following an internal review. The club is believed to have enhanced investments in the women's team this season, changes likely to be reflected in the 2025-26 accounts scheduled for release next spring.
This financial revelation comes amid broader discussions about investment in women's football. Angel City co-founder recently commented that many WSL clubs are treated as "an afterthought" by their owners, highlighting systemic issues in resource allocation across the sport.
The disparity between executive compensation and team investment raises important questions about financial priorities in football clubs, even as women's teams demonstrate growing commercial viability and competitive improvement.
