Journalist David Ornstein has shared insights into Wolverhampton Wanderers’ surprising vote against the proposed ban on related-party loans in the Premier League. Initially, it was believed that Wolves might support the ban, but the club ultimately voted against it. The ban, which needed 14 votes to pass, received 13 in favor and 7 against, allowing Premier League clubs to continue loaning players from clubs owned by the same individuals.
Newcastle United, owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in Saudi Arabia, is now free to acquire players on loan from PIF-owned clubs. Similarly, Manchester City can access players from City Football Group (CFG)-owned clubs, and Manchester United would be able to secure players from OGC Nice, owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group, with Ratcliffe expected to acquire a stake in United soon.
The decision by Wolves to vote against the ban has raised eyebrows, especially considering that the club may not directly benefit from the related-party loans. While Wolves do have an association with Grasshopper Zurich, it’s unlikely that they would actively seek loan players from the Swiss outfit. In recent years, Wolves have mainly sent players on loan to Grasshopper Zurich to support their development.
The intrigue deepens as speculation arises about Newcastle potentially pursuing former Wolves captain Ruben Neves in the upcoming transfer window. If just one more Premier League club had voted for the ban, Newcastle’s pursuit of Neves and other related-party loans would have been restricted. The situation adds an element of uncertainty to how Wolves might react if their former captain ends up moving to Newcastle as reported.
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