Former Spurs chairman earned more than all 64 women's players and staff combined in damning indictment of football's gender pay gap
Daniel Levy pocketed £5.76m in his final season at Tottenham, while the club's entire women's team of 64 players and staff earned a combined £4.3m. The stark disparity, revealed in Tottenham's latest financial accounts, exposes the hollow promises behind Premier League clubs' claims to support women's football.
The former executive chairman's remuneration represented a 54% increase from the previous year, making him the Premier League's highest-paid director according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire. He departed the club in September after nearly 25 years.
The financial accounts paint a damning picture of Tottenham's priorities. While Levy took home £5.76m, each member of the women's team earned an average of just £58,000 per annum.
The women's team's total salaries and bonuses reached £3.73m, up 23% from 2024. After social security costs and pension contributions, the total wage bill stood at £4.3m. That's £1.46m less than what one man earned for running the club.
Despite the increase in investment, Tottenham Women posted a £2.83m loss after tax, similar to their £2.73m loss in 2024. The team's commercial income more than doubled to £3.34m, but broadcast revenue remained static at £267,414.
The accounts also revealed a decrease in prize money of around £600,000, reflecting the team's dismal 11th-place finish in the WSL last season. Each position in the league table matters financially, and Tottenham's poor showing cost them dearly.
Tottenham's £4.3m wage bill for their women's team falls significantly behind several WSL competitors, undermining any claims of genuine commitment to the women's game.
Arsenal's wage bill stands at nearly three times Tottenham's investment, reflecting the Gunners' dominance in the WSL. Even Brighton, hardly a financial powerhouse, outspend Spurs on their women's team.
The correlation between spending and success is clear. While Tottenham finished 11th last season, higher-spending rivals occupied the top positions. This season has seen improvement with Spurs sitting fifth with three games remaining, nearly doubling their league victories from last term.
The club claims women's football has been repositioned as a "strategic priority" following an internal review. But strategic priorities require strategic investment, not pocket change compared to executive salaries.
The Levy salary scandal represents more than just one club's misplaced priorities. It symbolises the systemic undervaluation of women's football across the Premier League establishment.
For those analysing WSL markets, wage bills serve as a crucial indicator of ambition and likely performance. Clubs treating women's football as a box-ticking exercise rarely compete for honours or attract the talent needed to drive commercial growth.
Angel City's co-founder recently stated that owners treat many WSL clubs as "an afterthought". Tottenham's accounts provide damning evidence of this attitude, with Levy's salary alone capable of funding significant squad improvements.
The doubling of Tottenham Women's commercial income to £3.34m demonstrates the untapped potential in women's football. With proper investment and leadership commitment, these figures could multiply rapidly.
Women's football has been repositioned as a strategic priority at Tottenham following an internal review.
Such statements ring hollow when a departing executive earns more than an entire squad. Real change requires clubs to put their money where their mouth is.
Tottenham's 2025-26 accounts, due next spring, will reveal whether the club's claimed "strategic priority" translates into meaningful investment. Early signs suggest enhanced spending this season, which could explain the team's improved league position.
The broader question remains whether Premier League clubs will continue treating women's football as a charitable endeavour rather than a growth opportunity. As broadcast deals expand and commercial interest grows, clubs that fail to invest risk being left behind both competitively and commercially.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting advice.
Daniel Levy earned £5.76m in his final season at Tottenham, representing a 54% increase from the previous year. This made him the Premier League's highest-paid director according to football finance experts.
Tottenham Women's wage bill is £4.3m for 64 players and staff, averaging £58,000 per person annually. This is significantly lower than Arsenal's £11.3m and even Brighton's £5m investment in women's football.
Tottenham Women finished 11th in the WSL last season, their worst-ever league position. The poor performance resulted in decreased prize money of around £600,000 and contributed to a £2.83m loss after tax.
Daniel Levy's £5.76m salary exceeded Tottenham Women's entire £4.3m wage bill by £1.46m. His individual earnings were higher than the combined salaries of all 64 women's team players and staff members.
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