How much can Stoke City spend under SCR?

Stoke City has a guaranteed SCR spending limit of £27.5m — 85% of estimated football revenue of £32.3m. If the owner uses the full equity top-up, the ceiling rises to £42.5m.

What is Stoke City's SCR headroom?

Stoke City's estimated SCR headroom is £5.2m — the difference between their guaranteed 85% limit of £27.5m and their estimated £22.3m squad cost. With the owner top-up, the max allowance rises to £42.5m.

EFL Squad Cost Ratio

How much can Stoke City spend?

Under the EFL's Squad Cost Ratio rules, Stoke City have a guaranteed spending limit of £27.5m — 85% of estimated football revenue of £32.3m. Against their estimated squad cost that leaves £5.2m of headroom. If the owner injects the maximum top-up (£15m/season), the ceiling rises to £42.5m.

Stoke City: the SCR breakdown

Estimated revenue (football) reported £32.3m
85% SCR limit (no owner top-up) £27.5m
Estimated squad cost reported £22.3m
Headroom vs 85% limit +£5.2m
+ Max owner equity top-up (if used) £15m
Max spending allowance (with top-up) £42.5m
Headroom vs max allowance +£20.2m

High spending power - squad cost is 69% of revenue

What this means

On these estimates, Stoke City sit comfortably inside the 85% Green Threshold. They have room to invest in the squad without straining the rules.

Old rules vs new: PSR compared to SCR

Under the old PSR system, clubs were judged on total losses over three years, not on what they spent on the squad as a share of revenue. Here's how Stoke's position compares under both sets of rules.

Old PSR (loss-based)	New SCR (revenue-based)
3-year losses: −£54.7m estimated Limit: £39m Headroom: −£15.7m 2021/22–2023/24 (Championship)	Squad cost: £22.3m 85% limit: £27.5m · Max (with top-up): £42.5m Headroom: +£5.2m Based on £32.3m revenue

Adjusted losses of ~£18m, £11m and £25.7m over three years (~£54.7m, £15.7m over limit). Owner John Coates forgave £90m in loans in 2024/25 to avoid a reported loss of £29m. No EFL sanctions. Described publicly as 'constrained by PSR' but technically compliant via owner support.

Note on this club's figures. 2023/24 revenue £32.3m. Wage bill £22.3m (unusually low ratio - club has cut costs heavily after years of losses). Sources: Swiss Ramble, stokecityfc.com official accounts, Companies House.
Source.

Compare Stoke with another club

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← All Championship clubs ranked by SCR headroom

Figures are illustrative estimates from published accounts and public reporting, not official SCR submissions. SCR uses adjusted football revenue, which differs from headline turnover. Last reviewed 2026-05-17. Full rules explainer →