Hull City have avoided a points deduction after confirming two sales which mean they aren’t in breach of financial regulations upon their arrival to the Premier League.
The Tigers snatched a last-gasp winner in the Championship play-off final in May pipping Middlesbrough to guaranteed riches of around £200m as they sealed their return back to the English top-flight.
However, winning that game left Hull in a precarious position financially, with the club required to sell players before the end of June to avoid a potential points deduction in the top-flight.
Hull were said to have an overspend of around £6m on their profit and sustainability (PSR) calculation, caused by the activation of promotion bonuses in players’ contracts. This could have resulted in a six-point penalty under EFL rules.
As such, the club have sanctioned the sales of first-choice goalkeeper Ivon Pandur to Rangers for £6m, along with Albanian midfielder Aidon Shehu to Greek side Panathinaikos for £2.5m
Pandur played all bar one of Hull’s Championship matches last season and kept a clean sheet in the play-off final against Middlesbrough.
Hull would not have been at risk of a sanction had they lost to Boro in football’s richest game and remained in the Championship, as they would not have been in danger of exceeding the maximum losses of £39m for the past three seasons.
But they were forced into action due to their triumph, with Hull owner Acun Ilicali speaking candidly about the club’s situation during a Q&A at the MKM Stadium at the beginning of June.
“We have overspent and we have to sell some players before 1 July,” he said.
“I’m not afraid. We have managed harder things. For us, this is more manageable.
“Now we are a Premier League team, the values [of players] has raised up which is a good advantage.”
Hull were promoted against the odds after being restricted to free agents and loans in 2025/26 for making late transfer payments to other clubs, which meant some of their key players – including Joe Gelhardt, John Lundstram and Lewis Koumas – had already returned to their parent side as they found themselves in this predicament.
In order to avoid a breach by the end of the accounting period on 30 June, Hull have had to sacrifice one of their most highly-rated permanent players.
Because of the PSR restrictions, Hull have so far made no new signings as they prepare for life back in the top flight for the first time since being relegated in 2017. Hull kick off the season against Manchester United on 22 August.
The current PSR rules are being phased out in favour of a squad cost ratio system which allows clubs to spend 85 percent of their income on the playing squad.
