AS Roma has to work hard to avoid breaching UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules. The Italian club is reportedly still twelve to thirteen million euros short of meeting the required standards. So Roma faces a tough task: the deadline is June 30.
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In 2022, AS Roma entered into a financial settlement agreement with UEFA under the governing body’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) framework.
This agreement was part of a broader initiative by UEFA to push clubs across Europe toward sustainable financial management, particularly targeting those who had accumulated significant losses or failed to comply with financial regulations in recent seasons. For Roma, the pact marked both a warning and an opportunity: it provided the club a structured path to return to financial health but came with strict performance benchmarks and looming penalties in case of non-compliance.
Under the terms of the agreement, AS Roma committed to a multi-year plan that involved controlling spending, increasing revenues, and above all, generating capital gains through player trading. In practical terms, this meant the club had to sell players at a profit during the transfer windows, while also trimming unnecessary expenses and keeping wages under control. Failure to achieve these targets would trigger restrictions, including limits on new signings, reduced squad sizes in European competitions, and potential revenue-sharing clauses with UEFA.
Fast forward to June 2025, and it seems Roma's financial balancing act is in trouble. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport and Calcio&Finanza a platform renowned for its deep dives into football economics the club is reportedly still short by around twelve to thirteen million euros. This figure, while not astronomical in football terms, is significant enough to put Roma at risk of breaching its UEFA agreement if not resolved before the 2024/25 season officially closes on June 30.
The urgency stems from the fact that UEFA audits clubs on a seasonal basis, and the deadline marks the end of the financial year for football accounting purposes. If Roma fails to bridge the shortfall by that date, the club could face immediate consequences. The most likely sanctions would be transfer restrictions, which could limit the number of new players Roma is allowed to register in upcoming windows or force the club to operate within stricter financial limits when entering the market. While a more severe punishment such as exclusion from the UEFA Europa League has been floated, it is currently viewed as unlikely given the nature of the violation and Roma’s overall cooperation with UEFA so far.
In an effort to close the financial gap, Roma has begun exploring outgoing transfers. One of the most discussed options is Leandro Paredes, whose potential return to Boca Juniors could generate a few million euros in revenue. While that move would certainly help, insiders suggest it won’t be sufficient to cover the entire deficit. The club would need to execute at least one or two additional sales, ideally with solid profit margins, to meet the requirements.
Another name on the radar is Evan Ndicka, the Ivorian centre-back who has drawn interest from several clubs across Europe. Ndicka joined Roma on a free transfer in 2023, meaning any fee the club secures for him would be recorded as pure capital gain precisely the kind of transaction UEFA rewards under FFP. Selling Ndicka, however, would also weaken Roma’s defensive depth, putting the club in the difficult position of balancing financial necessity with sporting ambition.
Complicating matters further is the uncertainty surrounding the club’s ownership and long-term strategy. The Friedkin Group, which owns AS Roma, has invested heavily in both infrastructure and squad development in recent years, but they now face mounting pressure to comply with UEFA standards while also maintaining the competitive trajectory José Mourinho helped establish before his departure. The current sporting director and management team must now navigate a tense final week of the financial year, knowing that even small missteps could have consequences stretching far into the next season.
In the broader context, Roma’s situation is a clear reminder of the challenges clubs face in an era of increased financial scrutiny. While massive broadcasting revenues and sponsorship deals continue to fuel the sport, UEFA's tighter FFP regulations mean that financial discipline is now just as important as success on the pitch. For Roma, the next few days could define not only their transfer strategy but also their ability to compete at the European level in the coming seasons.
Updated: 03:11, 29 Jun 2025
