Everton and Barcelona have more in common than you might initially recognise.
Both will soon move into, or in Barcelona’s case move back to, shiny new stadiums.
Both have had financial issues of late and have suffered from what most experts agree amounts to mismanagement at best.
Everton and Barcelona have even shared a manager in Ronald Koeman and a handful of players in recent years – Gerrard Deulofeu, Andre Gomes, Yerry Mina, Lucas Digne.
Granted, they are not exactly mirror images, but there are similarities there. And those parallels extend to the commercial department.
While the takeover is undoubtedly Everton’s number one priority at present, ensuring compliance with Profit and Sustainability Rules is a not too distant second.
After being hit with two separate points deductions in 2023-24, the Toffees have taken a number of measures to ensure the same does not happen again this term.
Commercial revenue is central to that.
The club will feel that, if they can get over the line with PSR this season, the new stadium will insulate them from further punishments in future under a more competent ownership regime.
And news now coming from Barcelona bodes well for their compliance prospects.
New Everton partner pays Barcelona huge sum
As well as a providing a major income boost through ticketing revenue, Everton’s new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock will be a commercial goldmine.
Already, Everton have announced two ‘Founding Partner’ sponsorships, while a naming rights deal could be worth several million per season.
The first Founding Partner, Castore, are also Everton’s kit supplier in a deal worth a reported £20m per season, more than double the the previous agreement with Hummel.
The second company awarded Founding Partner status was more likely to go under the radar at Everton, but it will arguably have a greater impact on the matchday experience for years to come.
Earlier this month, it was announced that Aramark had become the official culinary experience partner of Everton.
No value was given to the partnership, but Everton described it as “one of the biggest deals in the club’s history.”
And while that language more likely refers to the scope and length of the agreement as opposed to the upfront value, the alliance between Everton and the American food service firm will be hugely lucrative.
While Everton fans can only speculate on the base fee, Sport Business have reported that the company have just invested a whopping £34m in Barcelona.
That payment, which is an extension of a pre-existing relationship with the Catalan giants, will allow them to meet Spain’s equivalent of PSR this season.
And perhaps their deal with Everton could potential allow the club to do the same.
