Lockhart Murphy Sport
Finance built around
professional football.
Professional football creates a financial profile unlike any other career. Contracted wages that compress a working lifetime into a decade. Bonuses that dwarf the base salary. Image rights paid through a separate company. A transfer that changes everything overnight.
We understand the structure of a professional footballer's financial life — and we know which lenders do too.
Income
Every income stream — evidenced correctly.
Standard lenders assess income against simple employment templates. A professional footballer's income is rarely simple. We know which lenders look at the full picture.
Playing salary
Contracted wages evidenced correctly for lender assessment
Signing bonuses
Presented where verifiable — not hidden as one-off income
Performance pay
Appearance fees and performance bonuses treated appropriately
Image rights
Personal service company income structured for specialist lenders
Overseas salary
Foreign currency income assessed with appropriate lender selection
Loyalty payments
Contract completion payments considered within the full picture
Can professional footballers get mortgages on fixed-term contracts?
Yes. Specialist lenders assess professional football contracts differently from standard employment — a fixed-term playing contract is not treated the same way as a zero-hours contract or temporary employment. Specific points:
- Contract length
- Most specialist lenders require at least 12 months remaining on the playing contract at the point of application — though some assess shorter contracts where the overall financial profile is strong.
- Income used
- Base salary and regularly paid bonuses can typically be included. Image rights income, signing bonuses and one-off payments are assessed case by case.
- Borrowing multiple
- Standard lenders apply 4–4.5× salary multiples. Specialist lenders working with professional athletes sometimes apply higher multiples where the income, contract and overall profile support it.
- International players
- Foreign nationals playing in England can access the UK mortgage market. Residency status, UK credit history and income currency all affect lender selection.
- Playing abroad
- UK nationals playing overseas can still buy UK property. Foreign currency income is accepted subject to currency conversion and specialist lender assessment.
- Buy-to-let
- Portfolios are often built during the playing career. Buy-to-let affordability is assessed primarily on projected rental income, making it accessible independently of playing salary. Buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the FCA.
Mortgage & Finance
The right mortgage at every stage of your career.
A first purchase during your early career, a high-value home as your profile grows, an investment portfolio built during peak earning years and a remortgage strategy that works when the playing years end — these require different approaches at each stage.
We plan across the career arc, not just for the immediate purchase.
Residential purchase
First homes, primary residences and high-value property throughout your career.
Remortgaging
Restructuring your borrowing at each stage — contract renewal, transfer or career transition.
High-value mortgages
Large borrowing where income, structure and lender selection all require careful management.
Buy-to-let & portfolios
Investment property built during peak earning years to sustain income beyond the playing career. Buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the FCA.
International purchases
UK property while contracted abroad, or overseas income considered for UK lending.
International Careers
Playing across borders. Buying in Britain.
Professional football careers regularly cross jurisdictions. Premier League. La Liga. Serie A. Bundesliga. Saudi Pro League. MLS. The league may change — the need for reliable UK financial advice does not.
We work with UK players earning abroad, international players working in England and players managing UK property during overseas postings. The income structure, residency status, currency and documentation requirements are all considered from the outset.
Lockhart Murphy is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any football club, league, competition, sporting organisation or governing body referenced on this website.
Protection
Your career is your biggest financial asset.
Life cover, critical illness and income protection can be structured around your actual contracted income and financial commitments — not a national average.
Common Questions
Answered.
Can professional footballers get mortgages on fixed-term contracts?
Yes. Many specialist lenders will consider fixed-term playing contracts when assessing mortgage affordability, provided the contract can be evidenced and the overall financial profile supports the borrowing. The approach taken — including how remaining contract length is treated — varies by lender and individual circumstances.
Can signing bonus income be included in a mortgage application?
Some specialist lenders will consider signing bonus payments alongside base salary, subject to verification and individual lender criteria. How this income is treated — and whether it increases borrowing capacity — depends on the lender's assessment approach and the specific circumstances of the application.
How are image rights payments treated for mortgage purposes?
Image rights income paid through a personal service company is often excluded by standard lenders. Specialist lenders who work with professional athletes may factor in verifiable image rights payments where properly documented and where the overall application supports this approach.
Can foreign professional footballers get UK mortgages?
Yes. International players working in the UK under professional contracts can access the mortgage market, though lender selection, residency status and credit footprint all play a role. We have experience arranging finance for international players throughout their UK careers.
Can a footballer playing abroad buy UK property?
Yes. UK nationals playing overseas and international players wishing to maintain a UK property presence can access appropriate mortgage products, subject to income verification, currency treatment and lender selection.
Can professional footballers build buy-to-let portfolios?
Yes. Peak earning years in professional football are an appropriate time to consider investment property, as buy-to-let mortgage affordability is typically assessed primarily on projected rental income rather than personal salary. Please note: buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the FCA.
Private Enquiry
Start a conversation.
Whether you are enquiring directly, through your agent or via your management company — we work with your team. All enquiries are handled in strict confidence.
We respond within one working day. Usually faster.
Agents & management
We regularly work alongside agents, management companies and financial advisers.
Confidential by default
No information leaves this conversation without your explicit permission.
No commitment required
An initial conversation is obligation-free.
Want to understand how footballer mortgages work?
Our guide covers short contracts, image rights, high-value lending and overseas income in detail.
Real outcomes
Premier League — £2m purchase at 85% LTV
High-value purchase structured around fixed-term contract income, signing-on fee and image rights.
Image rights PSC — mortgage on complex income
Mortgage arranged where income was split between salary, image rights through a personal service company and overseas payments.
Lockhart Murphy Sport
Mortgage advice built around a footballer's career.
Fixed-term contracts, signing-on fees, image rights and international circumstances — specialist lenders who understand how professional football income is structured.
Lockhart Murphy is a trading style of Mortgage Force (UK) Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Buy-to-let mortgages and most commercial lending are not regulated by the FCA. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it. Lockhart Murphy does not guarantee mortgage approval, specific loan terms or lender acceptance. All advice is subject to individual eligibility and circumstances. Lockhart Murphy is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any football club, league, competition, sporting organisation or governing body referenced on this website.