Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that the era of foreign domination in the Premiership will ‘soon be over’ due to the declining value of the pound, which makes transfer fees more expensive, and the imposition in last week’s Budget of a 50 per cent tax rate on high earners. All Premiership players fall into the £150,000-a-year bracket subject to the highest tax band and Wenger believes this will lead to an exodus of foreign players this month. They could end up paying an extra 16 per cent in tax when one takes account of the elimination of personal allowances for higher earners.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that the era of foreign domination in the Premiership will ‘soon be over’ due to the declining value of the pound, which makes transfer fees more expensive, and the imposition in last week’s Budget of a 50 per cent tax rate on high earners. All Premiership players fall into the £150,000-a-year bracket subject to the highest tax band and Wenger believes this will lead to an exodus of foreign players this month. They could end up paying an extra 16 per cent in tax when one takes account of the elimination of personal allowances for higher earners. The tax changes will also hit Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, but not the prime minister’s team, Raith Rovers. Spain is one likely destination for the tax refugees, not only because of the quality of its league, but also because tax for the highest earners is capped at 40 per cent and top players can exploit a loophole, reducing this to 25 per cent if they acquire ‘foreign executive’ status.