Asia deal set to bank Manchester City significant eight-figure cash boost

Manchester City are expected to raise an eight-figure sum through their jaunt in East Asia this summer ahead of the 2023/2024 season, according to a report.

As part of a series of announcements across their social media channels last month, City confirmed that their preparations for the 2023/24 season would take place in East Asia, with a showpiece tie against La Liga giants Atletico Madrid already confirmed.

Pep Guardiola and his players are set to take on Diego Simeone’s side at the World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea on Sunday 30th July – one of three fixtures scheduled to take place over the closed season period.

It has further been reported that the reigning Premier League champions, who are in the midst of a treble-hunt this season, will also take on Bundesliga side Bayern Munich in a pre-season friendly in Tokyo – although this is yet to be confirmed.

Now, in fresh details surrounding the jaunt in the far-east, it has been calculated that the Etihad club could secure themselves a healthy eight-figure sum by partaking in matches and commercial activities while in that part of the globe.

That is according to the information of Football Insider, who report that Manchester City expect to earn between £8 million and £10 million from their pre-season tour.

The report quotes a ‘commercial source familiar with City Football Group’s operations’, who states that Manchester City will likely charge ‘seven-figure sums’ for each pre-season match, with sponsorship, merchandise sales, broadcasting rights and ticketing income taking the total to the aforementioned forecast.

The hiring of training facilities, contingency expenses, travel and accommodation as well as marketing and promotion have been marked as ‘major overheads’.

Such profits could go a long way in boosting Manchester City’s transfer kitty for the summer market too, with it being understood that officials within the Etihad Stadium could look to significantly overhaul their first-team playing squad.

Pep Guardiola and his colleagues at the club are understood to be in the market for a number of marquee signings, including the recruitment of a big-name central midfielder, a wide-attacker, and possibly reinforcements in defence – dependent on exits at the club.

Jude Bellingham remains Manchester City’s transfer priority, however Etihad scouts have also taken an interest in the likes of AC Milan’s Rafael Leao, as well as Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney and Brentford’s Aaron Hickey.