Man City release statement as Blues settle APT case with Premier League

Manchester City have agreed a settlement with the Premier League over Associated Party Transaction rules.

Manchester City have reached an agreement with the Premier League over sponsorship rules

Manchester City have reached a settlement agreement with the Premier League over a case the club brought concerning the league's Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules.

A statement released by City on Monday afternoon said that both parties had agreed to terminate the proceedings and that, as a result of the settlement, City accept the current APT rules are "valid and binding.”

The club's statement said: "The Premier League and Manchester City FC have reached a settlement in relation to the arbitration commenced by the club earlier this year concerning the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) Rules and as a result the parties have agreed to terminate the proceedings.

"This settlement brings an end to the dispute between the parties regarding the APT Rules. As part of the settlement, Manchester City accepts that the current APT Rules are valid and binding.

"It has been agreed that neither the Premier League nor the club will be making any further comment about the matter."

City initially challenged the league over the rules in January 2024, with a tribunal ruling in October of that year that three aspects of the rules were unlawful.

As a result, the rules were rewritten, but City still believed they were anti-competitive and breached public law principles. The club's lawyers filed a new case earlier this year, and the case was due to be heard later in 2025.

However, the agreement reached between the two parties means that the hearing has now been shelved, and the Premier League's rewritten APT rules will remain in place.

The rules govern sponsorship deals that clubs sign with companies linked to their ownership. They were drawn up to ensure that clubs don't overinflate some deals to boost their revenue.

City wanted to sign sponsorship deals with Etihad Airways and First Abu Dhabi Bank in 2023, but when they submitted them to the Premier League they were blocked for not being fair-market value under the APT rules.

That is when City challenged the legality of those rules, winning the initial case last year and forcing some of them to be changed, with a ruling in February 2025 concluding that all the previous rules must be void. The change in the rules means those deals City agreed two years ago could now go through.

The legal action is separate from the one covering 130 charges laid out against City by the Premier League for alleged breaches of financial regulations. City has denied all charges.

---

Here at the Manchester Evening News, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester City coverage and analysis.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.

And finally, if you’d rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Talking City podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.