Lockhart Murphy Sport
Finance that follows you
across borders.
Professional sporting careers cross jurisdictions. The Premier League. La Liga. Serie A. The Saudi Pro League. MLS. Wherever the career takes you, the need for reliable UK financial advice does not follow a map — and neither do we.
We work with UK athletes earning abroad, international athletes working in England, and athletes managing UK property during overseas postings. The income structure, residency status, currency and documentation requirements are understood from the outset.
Who We Work With
Every international scenario — a different approach.
International careers create different challenges depending on direction of travel, currency, residency status and what the UK property is for. We understand the differences.
UK athlete playing abroad
Buying UK property on an overseas salary — whether a primary residence, a holiday home or an investment property. Expat residential and buy-to-let products both available.
International athlete in the UK
Foreign national playing in the Premier League, Championship, top-flight European competitions or other UK leagues. Visa status, contract length and UK residency all influence lender selection.
Athlete between contracts internationally
Transitioning between leagues or countries, with income from multiple jurisdictions or a gap period before a new contract starts. We advise on the right moment to apply and how to present the situation.
Athlete returning to the UK
Reestablishing UK residency and financial footprint after years abroad. Credit history, income continuity and lender familiarity with returning expats all matter.
Currency & Income
Foreign-currency salary — presented correctly.
Most lenders apply a haircut to foreign-currency income when assessing affordability — typically 10–25% — to account for exchange rate risk. The size of the haircut, and whether the income is accepted at all, varies significantly between lenders.
Lenders who are comfortable with the league, the currency and the employment structure will apply fewer constraints than those who are not. We identify the right lender before making any approach.
Currency assessment
Lenders assess sterling equivalent of overseas salary, applying exchange rate adjustments. Lender selection determines the size of that adjustment.
Major currencies
Euros, US dollars, Saudi riyals, UAE dirhams, Japanese yen and other major currencies are all workable with the right lender.
Contract evidence
Playing contracts, payslips in the local currency and employer confirmation letters — translated and presented correctly for the UK market.
Multi-currency situations
Some athletes receive income in multiple currencies across different periods. We structure the income presentation to reflect total earning capacity.
Tax treaties
Where overseas income is taxed in the country of employment, documentation of net-of-tax income and UK tax position may be required by certain lenders.
Discretion
Your career. Your privacy.
We work with agents, management companies and legal representatives as standard. Enquiries can be made through third parties and no information is shared outside the advice relationship without explicit permission. For international clients, we are experienced in working across time zones.
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.
Common Questions
Answered.
Can a professional athlete playing abroad get a UK mortgage?
Yes. UK nationals playing overseas can access the UK mortgage market as expat borrowers. The approach depends on the country where the salary is earned, the currency, the residency status and the purpose of the UK property. Specialist lenders with appetite for expat applications are available across both residential and buy-to-let lending.
Can a foreign national playing in the UK get a mortgage here?
Yes. International athletes working in the UK under professional contracts can access the mortgage market, though residency status, visa type, remaining contract length and credit footprint in the UK all influence the available lenders and terms. We have experience arranging finance for international players throughout their UK careers.
How is overseas salary treated when applying for a UK mortgage?
Overseas salary is typically converted to sterling by the lender using an exchange rate haircut — meaning the usable income figure is lower than the nominal currency equivalent. Lender selection matters significantly here, as haircuts and eligibility criteria vary. In some cases, presenting income in the right currency context with the right lender can make a material difference to borrowing capacity.
Can I maintain UK property while playing abroad?
Yes. Retaining or purchasing UK property during an overseas posting is possible, though it may affect the terms available — particularly for residential mortgages where lenders typically expect the property to be owner-occupied. We advise on the most appropriate structure given the current posting and future plans.
What about UK buy-to-let property for athletes playing overseas?
Buy-to-let applications from overseas-based investors are handled by a subset of specialist lenders. The application is primarily assessed on rental income coverage rather than salary, which can make this accessible alongside an overseas playing contract. Buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the FCA.
Do you work with athletes returning to the UK from overseas?
Yes. Athletes returning to the UK — whether to a domestic club or in retirement — sometimes face challenges reasserting UK residency for mortgage purposes, particularly if they have not maintained a UK credit footprint while abroad. We advise on how to approach lenders in this situation and what documentation helps most.
Private Enquiry
Wherever you are.
We work across time zones. Enquiries can be made by you, your agent, management company or legal representative. All enquiries are handled in confidence and responded to within one working day — usually faster.
Agent & management enquiries welcome
We work with agents and management companies as standard on behalf of their clients.
Discretion as standard
No information leaves the advice relationship without explicit permission.
No obligation
An initial conversation is free and commits you to nothing.
Lockhart Murphy is a trading name of Mortgage Force Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Buy-to-let mortgages 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.