From rising star to retirement — a footballer’s guide to wealth, family & future planning

A footballer’s career can move at extraordinary speed — life‑changing earnings in their teens, global mobility in their twenties and the challenge of securing long‑term stability long after the final whistle. 

With that pace comes a unique mix of financial, legal and personal decisions, from managing sudden wealth to navigating international tax rules, preparing Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs), protecting family and planning for life beyond the pitch.

These pressures emerge at different stages of a player’s journey. Here, Huzaifa Moosa from our Brabners Personal team explores those stages, highlighting the issues that typically arise and how the right advice can safeguard a player’s wealth, career and legacy.

Stage one: The rising star & early career

Young players can sign their first professional contracts when they turn 17 years old, moving almost overnight from academy life to significant earnings and adult responsibilities. It’s a huge transition — financially, legally and personally — and the right support early on can make a lasting difference.

Key considerations:

• Financial literacy: despite having significant wealth and earning capacity, many young players have limited education around how to manage their finances. This stage in their career is a perfect opportunity to get ahead of it by speaking to accountants, solicitors and financial advisors so they can ensure that their affairs are in order. This may involve setting up accounts and vehicles for savings and investments.
• LPAs: these documents can only be entered into once the player turns 18 years old. With significant focus on concussion guidance and protocols for young footballers, an LPA is imperative to ensure that their financial and health affairs can be effectively managed if they were to lose mental capacity.
• Basic Will: once the player turns 18 years old, they can enter into a Will. Even a simple one ensures that Inheritance Tax (IHT) is carefully assessed and their wishes are properly followed.
• Pre-nuptial agreements (prenups): many footballers marry earlier than the national average (38.4 years for men and 36.1 years for women). In order to protect their wealth, a prenup or cohabitation agreement should be explored.
• Property ownership: on signing their first professional contract, many players will purchase their first home. In some cases, they may also purchase properties for their loved ones. It’s important to consider how such property purchases are arranged and how ownership is held — especially for tax purposes.

Why it matters: it’s important to set a foundation for future planning, particularly in light of sudden wealth. Even if future opportunities for planning are missed, initial planning at this stage provides a solid base for wealth growth and protection, can help to avoid disputes and protects loved ones.

Stage two: High earnings, growing family & international moves

When a player is at their peak on the pitch, they’re also often at the peak of their earning capacity. This is usually when they sign their ‘big’ contract and — in some cases — move abroad for a lucrative deal.

Key considerations:

• Succession planning: in addition to revisiting their Will, players may want to explore wider planning opportunities to ensure that their wealth is best able to take care of their loved ones. This could include trusts or family investment companies, which are geared towards managed succession of wealth.
• Image rights: players performing at the highest level may want to review how their image rights, sponsorships and commercial partnerships are managed and whether incorporating these would be appropriate, either on-shore or off-shore.
• Residency and domicile: where players are moving abroad or hold assets or investments abroad (including image right companies or other businesses), it’s important that they properly understand UK tax residency rules to avoid double taxation. This has become more relevant following the change to the Foreign Income and Gains regime in April 2025.
• Guardianship provisions: when preparing Wills, players should ensure that their children are properly cared for when they pass. A guardian appointed by the Will (if no other parent is alive) will be responsible for caring for the child, so choosing someone that you trust is crucial.
• Review prenups: it’s recommended that prenups should be reviewed every three to five years to ensure that it still takes into account the circumstances of the couple. It should also be reviewed when they have children, move abroad or experience any other significant life event.

Why it matters: at the height of their careers, footballers’ focus is rightly on performance. However, having a strong network of advisors to ensure that their affairs are properly managed is crucial. As wealth and profile grows, so does family security and wealth preservation.

Stage three: The transition & preparing for retirement

In their early 30s, players often start thinking about life after football.

Key considerations:

• Updating Wills & LPAs: beyond guardianship provisions, a player’s Will and LPAs should be reviewed regularly to reflect changes in their circumstances — for example, moving abroad or acquiring diverse assets like complex investments or overseas property.
• Business ventures: many players will want to set up corporate structures in anticipation of a life after football, often focussed on coaching, media work, endorsement and apparel/retail. It’s important that these structures are set up appropriately and the tax treatment is properly considered.
• IHT planning: players are often now more mindful of succession of wealth, with a particular focus on mitigation or management of IHT liabilities. Advisors can provide suitable solutions and strategies to preserve wealth for future generations.

Why it matters: a short playing career means long-term financial security must be carefully structured. Being proactive and keeping one eye on retirement is advisable.

Stage four: Legacy & lifestyle

When a player retires, they’ll need to plan for future income streams — though many spend time focusing on family and philanthropy.

Key considerations:

• Commercial endeavours: retirement from the game usually results in a career in media, commercial sponsorships and brand endorsements, coaching and management or executive roles. It’s important that the tax treatment of these roles is properly assessed, particularly when done through corporate entities.
• Charitable giving: some footballers who are keen on making a philanthropic mark may wish to establish their own foundations or donor-advised funds through which they can leave a lasting legacy in support of a cause that matters to them.
• Asset protection: for many players, retirement often means a dip in income and may result in depletion of capital. In turn, proper management of investments and appropriate structuring to protect assets is crucial to ensure that their lifestyle can be maintained.
• Ongoing care for loved ones: players that may have previously been caring for loved ones through financial support may struggle to continue this after their retirement. Speaking to a financial advisor allows them to properly understand whether this is feasible and how it can be achieved.

Why it matters: retirement doesn’t end financial complexity, it simply changes the nature of the challenges. Retirement offers a good opportunity to take proper stock of their circumstances and prepare a plan for the remainder of their life.

Talk to us

Our private client team works with players, agents and intermediaries at every stage of the journey, helping to protect wealth, support family and plan for life beyond the game.

We provide specialist advice to clients across the world of football and sport with Wills and LPAs, succession and tax planning, image rights structures, international residency issues, property ownership, business ventures and long‑term wealth protection. 

Whether you’re signing your first contract, navigating a major transfer or planning for life after the game, we help you to make informed decisions that safeguard your future.

Talk to us by giving us a call on 0333 004 4488, sending us an email at privateclient@brabners.com or completing our contact form below.

If you’re looking for the very best in personal legal advice, discover Brabners Personal — our solution that provides you with easy access to a wealth of trusted experts who can help you to plan and protect your future.