Tottenham paid Daniel Levy £27m exit package — one of football's largest executive payouts

Tottenham Hotspur paid Daniel Levy approximately £27million when he departed the club in September 2024, a figure reported by The Athletic that is believed to be one of the largest exit packages ever handed to a football executive. The sum covered Levy’s salary, bonuses, and a long-term incentive plan that had been in place during his 24-year tenure at the club.

The payout came as part of a sweeping restructure authorised by the Lewis family, who own a controlling interest in Spurs. Non-executive chairman Peter Charrington addressed supporters at the end of last season, acknowledging the scale of the change. “Last September, we recognised that something seismic had to change at Spurs,” he wrote in an open letter. “The Lewis family stepped in and authorised a full reset. That decision was not taken lightly, and it came later than it should have.”

Since assuming control, the Lewis family have invested £320million into the club over the past year, including a £120million injection of working capital as they continue to grow their shareholding. Levy himself still holds around 24% of Tottenham, though his stake was diluted from 26% after he did not respond to an offer to participate in a £100million equity investment before the August deadline.

New head coach Roberto De Zerbi has been heavily backed in the transfer market, with Spurs spending close to £400million on 10 new signings over the summer. High-profile arrivals included Sandro Tonali, Savio, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Tosin Adarabioyo.

The investment is intended to prevent a repeat of last season’s relegation battle, which required a final-day win over Everton to secure Premier League survival. However, the early signs under De Zerbi have been difficult: Tottenham head into the first international break of the 2025-26 season bottom of the Premier League table, having lost three and drawn two of their opening five fixtures.

De Zerbi’s side return to action on 18 October when they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.