Hull City have released a statement confirming they have been placed under a transfer embargo by the English Football League.
The sanction will last for the next three windows, meaning that the Tigers will be unable to pay fees to recruit players until January 2027. Embargoes also limit the size of club’s squads to 23 players of “professional standing”.
There are growing concerns over City’s finances after they were late making transfer payments to Aston Villa for the £1m loan of forward Louie Barry in the winter window. Although the debt has now been settled, it is thought the delay was too long for the EFL and the Tigers have now been slapped with a transfer ban. The Tigers, who have already signed three first team players this summer, remain “confident” of getting the embargo lifted.
A statement on City’s club website read: “We can confirm that we have received notification from the EFL that we are subject to a transfer embargo and a three-window fee restriction with immediate effect. We will appeal the three-window fee restriction and are confident of resolving the matter as soon as possible.”
Owner Acun Ilicali told supporters at a question and answer session on Monday evening after unveiling new boss Sergej Jakirovic that the club do not have money problems. The Turkish media mogul has invested heavily in the Championship club since buying them in January 2022, with debts in the last set of accounts showing losses in excess of £60m.
“We don’t owe any money to anybody – the club owes money to me and I am the owner,” Ilicali told BBC Radio Humberside. “I am spending from my pocket but we have extremely good players in the squad. I can say to the fans do not be under stress, we are fine.”
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