The club have been cleared of only one of the 115 charges, sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic. The individuals spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to discuss the outcome publicly. The Premier League has yet to announce what punishment, if any, will be imposed, while City are expected to challenge the findings through an appeal.
The charges were formally brought in February 2023 after a four-year investigation into the club's financial affairs. The allegations cover a period between 2009 and 2018 and were referred to an independent commission for consideration.
Manchester City have consistently rejected the accusations. In a statement, the club said the Premier League proceedings were still ongoing and that significant parts of the process remained incomplete. City also reiterated their belief that the case should be handled by an independent and impartial regulator.
The investigation began after German publication Der Spiegel released leaked financial documents concerning the club in November 2018. The Premier League subsequently accused City of providing inaccurate financial information, including details concerning payments to players and managers. The club were also accused of breaking UEFA financial fair play rules and the Premier League's profitability and sustainability regulations.
The case follows an earlier dispute with UEFA. In February 2020, European football's governing body banned City from its competitions for two years and imposed a €30 million fine after examining allegations connected to the leaked documents. The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the competition ban five months later, ruling that some allegations had not been established while others were outside the permitted time limit. However, City were found to have failed to cooperate with UEFA's investigation and were fined £8.8 million.
The Premier League case has taken years to reach this stage. Chief executive Richard Masters said last month that the proceedings had lasted longer than anticipated but argued that allowing the process to continue was the only available option.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak previously called for greater balance in the league's approach to financial regulations. The club also reached an agreement with the Premier League in September 2025 following a separate dispute over associated party transaction rules.
City have enjoyed significant success during the period covered by the allegations, winning three Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups. They have continued to compete at the top level, opening the 2026-27 season with five consecutive victories under new manager Enzo Maresca.
