Deferred tax

12 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2026

17	Deferred tax

Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset where the Group has a legally enforceable right to do so. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances (after allowable offset):


		2026		2025
		£’000		£’000
UK deferred tax assets		29,997		24,927

The movement in deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities during the year is as follows:


		2026		2025
		£’000		£’000
At 1 July		24,927		17,607
Credited to statement of profit or loss (Note 10)		4,581		7,728
Credited/(expensed) to other comprehensive income (Note 10)		289		(408)
Credit relating to share-based payments⁽¹⁾		200		—
At 30 June		29,997		24,927

(1)	Credits relating to share-based payments arise on the movement in the share price on equity-settled awards between the grant date and the reporting date – see consolidated statement of changes in equity above.

17	Deferred tax (continued)

The movement in US net deferred tax assets are as follows:


		Net operating
		losses and interest		Property, plant		Foreign tax
		restriction		and equipment		credits		Total
		£’000		£’000		£’000		£’000
At 1 July 2024		(4,277)		4,277		—		—
(Credited)/expensed to statement of profit or loss		(15,144)		(65)		15,209		—
At 30 June 2025		(19,421)		4,212		15,209		—
(Credited)/expensed to statement of profit or loss		(15,061)		(325)		15,386		—
At 30 June 2026		(34,482)		3,887		30,595		—

The movement in UK net deferred tax assets/(liabilities) are as follows:


		Accelerated				Non		Property		Net
		tax				qualifying		fair value		operating
		depreciation		Intangibles		property		adjustment		losses		Other⁽¹⁾		Total⁽²⁾
		£’000		£’000		£’000		£’000		£’000		£’000		£’000
At 1 July 2024		(3,459)		(22,582)		(17,467)		(15,549)		71,882		4,782		17,607
(Expensed)/credited to statement of profit or loss (Note 10)		(1,676)		(4,677)		5		631		15,287		(1,842)		7,728
Expensed to other comprehensive income (Note 10)		—		—		—		—		(132)		(276)		(408)
At 30 June 2025		(5,135)		(27,259)		(17,462)		(14,918)		87,037		2,664		24,927
(Expensed)/credited to statement of profit or loss (Note 10)		(4,461)		(11,302)		4		631		20,021		(312)		4,581
Credited to other comprehensive income (Note 10)		—		—		—		—		132		157		289
Credit relating to share based payments (Note 10)		—		—		—		—		—		200		200
At 30 June 2026		(9,596)		(38,561)		(17,458)		(14,287)		107,190		2,709		29,997

(1)	The “Other” deferred tax asset balance primarily comprises foreign exchange differences; fair value movements recognized in the hedging reserve; pensions not paid in the year and salaries not paid before 31 March 2027.

(2)	Of the total deferred tax assets, £29,997,000 is expected to be settled after more than one year.

17Deferred tax (continued)

Significant estimates – recognition of deferred tax assets

Deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is probable that the associated deductions will be available for use against future profits and that there will be sufficient future taxable profit available against which the temporary differences can be utilized, provided the asset can be reliably quantified. In estimating future taxable profit, management use “base case” approved forecasts which incorporate a number of assumptions, particularly around the performance of our Commercial revenue sector, including a prudent level of future uncontracted revenues in the forecast period, Broadcasting revenue assumptions around improved performance in domestic and UEFA club competitions, notably the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, and Matchday revenue assumptions, notably attendances and matchday hospitality sales. These forecasts also take into account various cost-saving initiatives instigated by management in the years ended 30 June 2025 and 30 June 2024. As these are forecast numbers, estimation uncertainty is inherent and management make prudent assessments in arriving at our estimate. For example, prolonged under performance of the men’s first team compared to forecast could result in insufficient future taxable profits, resulting in a longer timeframe over which our deferred tax assets are recognizable or a limitation on the amount of deferred tax assets that are recoverable.

We also consider the regulations applicable to tax and advice on their interpretation and potential future business planning. Future taxable income may be higher or lower than estimates made when determining whether it is appropriate to record a tax asset and the amount to be recorded. Furthermore, changes in the legislative framework or applicable tax case law may result in management reassessing the recognition of deferred tax assets in future periods.

At 30 June 2026 there is an unrecognized US deferred tax asset of £94,271,000 which is detailed below (2025: £97,278,000):

General

Net operating

accruals not

Salary not

losses and

paid within

Foreign tax

interest

8.5 months

2.5 months

Research and

credits

restriction

of year end

development

Other

Total

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

£’000

 

£’000

Unrecognized US deferred tax asset

7,780

76,111

3,751

1,743

3,341

1,545

94,271

At 30 June 2026, the Group has unrecognized UK deferred tax assets of £5,988,000 (2025: £nil) in respect of operating losses because there is insufficient evidence that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilized. The unrecognized deferred tax asset will be reviewed at each reporting date and recognised when recovery is deemed probable.