Manchester City and the Premier League have reached a settlement to end their long-running legal battle over the Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, with the club formally accepting that the regulations are “valid and binding.”
Both parties issued statements on Monday confirming that arbitration proceedings had been terminated and that no further comment would be made.
The dispute stemmed from amendments made to the APT rules in November 2024, when Premier League clubs voted 16-4 in favour of greater scrutiny of commercial and shareholder-related deals.
Designed to ensure sponsorships and loans from associated entities reflect fair market value, the rules were challenged by City earlier this year, with the club claiming they were unlawful. The case was due to head to a full hearing later in 2025, but the agreement now closes that chapter.
While this resolution brings clarity over the APT issue, it does not affect the far more serious matter of the 115 charges the Premier League has levelled against City for alleged financial breaches between 2009 and 2018. That separate case, heard by an independent panel late last year, is still awaiting a verdict.
On the pitch, Pep Guardiola’s side will attempt to refocus quickly, with Sunday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad coming after one of their poorest league starts in two decades.