RB Leipzig receives 100 million debt relief from Red Bull – Biggest Buli transfer minus since 2016

Transaction “completely normal”

With debt relief of EUR 100 million for the 2018/2019 financial year, RB Leipzig strengthened its equity thanks to the Red Bull lender. “At first glance, it looks like Red Bull’s performance is not in return – but that’s not the case. It is a transaction that is completely common, especially in the private sector, but also in the football business and also in the Bundesliga, ”said RB Finance Director Florian Hopp on Saturday of the“ German Press Agency ”. The “Mitteldeutsche Zeitung” and the Internet portal “RBlive.de” had previously reported on the topic.

The 40-year-old Hopp emphasized that it was not a donation from the donor. “The question of whether there is a gift can be answered in the negative. Then gift tax would also apply, which is not the case. In addition, Red Bull will offset its loss of interest in the form of a preferential dividend, ”said Hopp. For him it was also a stroke of luck in the current corona crisis. However, it should not give the impression that RB Leipzig now has an additional 100 million euros in the account.

Since 2016/17
Income and expenses of all German clubs
Statistics
Nevertheless, the first division club can initially plan for the future with a clear conscience. In addition to the millions that Leipzig will earn through the upcoming sale of Timo Werner, the Red Bull package helps to compensate for the drop in transfers in recent years. Since the promotion to the Bundesliga in 2016, RB has spent EUR 132 million more on newcomers than they earned on departures – no other club in Germany has recorded a greater difference.

(Display: The Bundesliga final live on Sky from € 9.99)

Growing player salaries make RB Leipzig decree necessary

In the meantime, Hopp justified the step with the sporting development up to the Champions League of the club, which was sponsored by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. Growing player salaries as well as broader structures in the club and the increase in sales made debt relief necessary.