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UEFA has fined Fenerbahce €7 million ($8.2 million) for overspending after the Turkish club exceeded the governing body's squad cost limit for the 2025 financial year, the European football body said in a statement on Monday.
The Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) found that Fenerbahce's squad costs reached 84% of its football-related revenue, exceeding the maximum 70% permitted under UEFA's financial sustainability regulations.
In a disclosure released later the same day, the Istanbul club confirmed it will appeal the sanction.
Fenerbahce Vice President Baris Gokturk said the fine stemmed from spending during the 2025-26 season's summer and winter transfer windows. He added that UEFA reduced the sanction from an initial €11 million to €7 million after reviewing the club's defense.
According to the club's latest financial report, Fenerbahce generated ₺9.7 billion ($208.7 million) in football-related revenue over the period.
The club committed a combined €124 million ($141.4 million) on new signings across the two transfer windows, with the costs largely spread over players' contracts. Major arrivals included Matteo Guendouzi (€28 million), Kerem Akturkoglu (€22.5 million), Dorgeles Nene (€18 million), N'Golo Kante (€15 million) and Ederson (€11 million).
The club also committed to substantial wages, with Kante's deal including a €14.4 million signing bonus, €5.5 million for the remainder of the 2025-26 season and €11 million annually over the following two seasons, while Ederson will earn €11 million over his contract.
UEFA's squad cost rule caps spending on player and coach wages, transfer fee amortization and agent commissions at 70% of football-related revenue.
Gokturk added that the board is preparing a comprehensive financial plan to comply with both Turkish Football Federation (TFF) spending limits and UEFA's financial sustainability requirements.
Fenerbahce was among 14 clubs sanctioned after UEFA completed its financial sustainability review for the 2025-26 season.
The governing body also fined Aston Villa, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Nice, Strasbourg, AEK Athens and Fiorentina for breaching the squad cost rule. Strasbourg received the largest squad cost-related fine at €25 million, with €12 million suspended, followed by Aston Villa at €22.5 million, including €15 million suspended.
Fiorentina €6 million, Chelsea €3 million, with €2 million suspended, Newcastle United €3 million, Nottingham Forest €2.5 million, AEK Athens €500,000 and Nice €450,000.
Strasbourg and Aston Villa, which committed significant breaches, will also face restrictions on registering new players for UEFA competitions during the 2026-27 season.
Separately, Juventus, Newcastle United, Nice, Santa Clara, FC Astana and Partizan were sanctioned for breaching the football earnings rule.
Juventus and Newcastle entered three-year settlement agreements requiring them to achieve full compliance by the end of the 2028-29 season. Juventus was fined €20 million, with €14 million suspended, while Newcastle received a €10 million fine, including €7 million suspended.
Under their settlement agreements, both clubs also accepted restrictions on registering new players on their UEFA List A, with those measures applying on a conditional or unconditional basis each season depending on their compliance with the agreed targets.
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