Hull City has successfully navigated the threat of a points deduction by selling goalkeeper Ivor Pandur and midfielder Aidon Shehu just hours before the Tuesday deadline. The sales were necessary to comply with the English Football League's (EFL) profit and sustainability regulations (PSR).
Clubs in the Championship are restricted to losses of £39 million over a three-year period. Hull City had an overspend of approximately £6 million for the period ending in the 2025-26 season. Failure to address this deficit before the accounting period closed on June 30 could have resulted in a deduction of up to six points in the Premier League.
The profit generated from player sales is crucial for PSR calculations. On Tuesday evening, Hull City announced the transfer of their first-choice goalkeeper, Ivor Pandur, to Rangers for £6 million. Pandur, who joined Hull in January 2024 for £1.5 million, was a notable performer for the club last season.
Further bolstering the club's financial position, Hull confirmed on Wednesday morning the sale of 19-year-old midfielder Aidon Shehu to Panathinaikos for a reported £2.5 million. Shehu, who was signed from Southend United two years ago, did not make a senior first-team appearance for Hull and spent the latter part of the last season on loan at Scarborough Athletic. His transfer represents pure profit for the club's PSR calculation.
Collectively, these two sales generated approximately £7 million in profit, effectively resolving Hull City's PSR concerns. The club had initially planned to sell Kyle Joseph to Middlesbrough for £5 million to clear the deficit, but the deal did not materialize in time due to complications between the clubs.
These financial constraints have thus far prevented Hull City from making any new signings ahead of the new season. Transfer activity is expected to increase once the new accounting period begins on Wednesday.
It was also noted that the EFL's PSR is set to be replaced by a new system called the squad cost ratio (SCR). Under the new system, clubs will be permitted to spend 85% of their generated income on their squads, with assessments conducted annually, rather than looking at losses over a three-year span.