SCR rules confirmed for 2026/27 - currently in shadow for 2025/26. Figures last reviewed 2026-05-17.

EFL Squad Cost Ratio

How much can Wolverhampton Wanderers spend?

Under the EFL's Squad Cost Ratio rules, Wolverhampton Wanderers can spend around £161.2m on squad costs - based on an estimated £172m of football revenue and the 85% limit, plus the owner equity top-up. That puts them an estimated £800k over the limit on current figures.

Wolverhampton Wanderers is a parachute-payment club. A large slice of this revenue is Premier League parachute money - and it falls away sharply once those payments end, which is exactly when SCR headroom can disappear.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: the SCR breakdown

  • Estimated revenue (football) reported £172m
  • SCR limit - 85% of revenue £146.2m
  • + Owner equity top-up (max / season) £15m
  • Effective spending allowance £161.2m
  • Estimated squad cost reported £162m
  • Headroom −£800k
Balanced - squad cost is 94.2% of revenue

What this means

On these estimates, Wolverhampton Wanderers are spending above the 85% Green Threshold but within reach of it - the kind of position the owner top-up allowance is designed to cover. Manageable, but not unlimited.

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 Wolves's position compares under both sets of rules.

Old PSR (loss-based) New SCR (revenue-based)
3-year losses: −£127.1m reported
Limit: £105m
Headroom: −£22.1m
2021/22–2023/24 (PL)
Squad cost: £162m
Limit (85% + top-up): £161.2m
Headroom: −£800k
Based on £172m revenue

Breached PL £105m limit by £22m. Losses of £46m, £67m, £14m over three seasons. Heavy player sales (£65m in 2023/24) kept headline losses down but club spent above PL threshold.

Note on this club's figures. 2024/25 revenue £172m (13-month period to June 2025, final PL season). Staff costs £162m. Relegated April 2026 - 2026/27 revenue will drop sharply to ~£70-80m once PL income is replaced by parachute payments (~£49m Year 1). Sources: matchdayfinance.com, theesk.org, wolves.co.uk.
Source.

Compare Wolves with another club

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 →