Sports
Former Liverpool Ace Jermaine Pennant Went Bankrupt After Losing £10m
Plenty of professional footballers have gone on to lose everything and go bankrupt after wrapping up their playing careers. But not too many have had the rollercoaster journey of Jermaine Pennant.
The former Arsenal, Liverpool and Birmingham City man was viewed as a ‘bad boy’ during his playing career, which never reached the heights expected. Pennant was a promising wide player in his younger days, but became a journeyman very quickly, not sticking around at any club for longer than a few years.
He looked destined to eventually earn an England cap when he was appearing in a Champions League final for Liverpool in 2007, but Pennant’s life decisions may have been behind his career being derailed. In early 2023, the retired winger’s life hit a real low point.
Jermaine Pennant Went Bankrupt With Crippling Debts
Ever since making a decent amount of money, the midfielder-turned-pundit has lived a luxurious lifestyle, including fast cars, expensive homes and lavish holidays. Pennant has admitted he is terrible with money and would’ve blown even more than the £10 million he actually did (per The Mirror):
“In all honesty, I could have been a billionaire and still f****d it up.
“I have made so many mistakes but I did not know how to deal with things and would not think of the consequences of my actions.”
He was officially declared bankrupt in January 2023 after racking up debts of around £1 million. He owed money to HMRC, banks, councils and utility companies.
The way he’d lived his life, spending money on anything and everything he wanted, Pennant had blown his entire fortune, which he estimates to be around £10 million. A divorce from his wife, Alice Goodwin, led to further losses, as everything mounted up.
Pennant Forgot He Owned Expensive Mansion
Pennant revealed he was diagnosed with ADHD and PTSD from childhood trauma in 2024. His ADHD led to the ex-England youth international forgetting he owned a house that he originally bought for £1.2 million.
After moving from Liverpool to Real Zaragoza, Pennant was still paying the interest-only mortgage on the six-bedroom property in Cheshire. The mansion was left unoccupied when he was in Spain, but was later taken over by a drug gang, who caused a fire at the home.
‘I Was Drunk on My Arsenal Debut – I Was Later MOTM in a Champions League Final’
The winger failed to live up to expectations after his incredible Premier League debut.
Despite admitting to overindulging in the purchases and decisions he made, the now 43-year-old is adamant he doesn’t know why he was declared bankrupt. He told talkSPORT (per The Sun):
“The bankruptcy did not happen overnight. It came from years of bad decisions and ignoring things. We disputed the tax bill and I still do not know what it is for.
“But that is the thing that led to the bankruptcy more than anything else. I had no idea what I was earning and what was coming out of my account.”
Ex-Arsenal Youngster Spent 30 Days in Prison
Losing his career earnings isn’t the scariest experience in Pennant’s life. While playing for Birmingham City in 2005, Pennant was sentenced to 90 days in jail after admitting to drunk driving while disqualified after previously being banned.
He initially identified himself as his friend Ashley Cole when questioned, but eventually served 30 days before being released. Opening up on the harrowing experience in prison, Pennant admitted in a 2025 interview:
“The worst thing I could’ve dreamt of happened. I thought: ‘That’s it, I’m done, my career’s done’. I was in a state of shock. I was like: ‘This is not happening – is there a way I can appeal?’ I can remember the guards coming in, taking me into the van. Then the journey to the prison, I was like: ‘Has this really happened? What am I going to do? Am I going to get beat up?'”
Pennant admitted to being in ‘pure shock’ and disbelief that he had gone from being a Premier League footballer to sharing the prison with dangerous criminals.
“I think I cried the fourth day in. The first two or three days were pure shock. I was still numb. Once that went away, I broke down. What have I done with my life? How have I got here? I was playing for Arsenal, playing in the Premier League, setting up [Emile] Heskey for goals, celebrating with my fans, had the world at my feet at one stage.
“How am I sitting in a prison cell like I’m some terrorist, murderer, rapist, because that’s who I was amongst. I was in a Category A prison, which is for the worst offenders out there.”
Manchester United‘s search for a new midfielder is ongoing after they missed out on Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham. The Red Devils wanted the West Ham midfielder but were outbid by Spurs, who are spending huge money to improve their squad this summer.
Spurs agreed to pay £85million to sign the young Portuguese star, and that fee proved too high for United, at least in the case of that specific player. Michael Carrick will be very aware that holding or hybrid midfielder is going to cost big money this summer, with such players dominating the market currently, as shown by Elliot Anderson’s £116million move to Manchester City.
One alternative United are being linked with is Real Madrid and France superstar Aurelien Tchouameni, and there has been an update on that particular interest from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Man Utd’s Aurelien Tchouameni dream
According to Romano, Tchouameni is a dream target for United, but it’s not just Real Madrid’s likely reluctance to sell standing in the way of a deal.
“Manchester United will still sign a midfielder. Man United were planning to sign two, one is going to be Ederson, and they will still sign one more, at least one more,” he said on his YouTube show.
“Then many of you are asking me about Tchouameni now. Tchouameni is a dream signing for Man United. They love the player, but at the moment, the financials of the deal are considered still too high, because also the salary — it is not just about Real Madrid, it’s also about the salary. The salary of Aurelien Tchouameni is considered too high. So, the only way to open doors to Aurelien Tchouameni to Manchester United after missing out on Fernandes is to discuss a completely different salary, and at the moment, it is still not something happening.”
According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid currently have no plans to sell Tchouameni, and only a huge offer is likely to get them to consider a sale regardless of whether they sign a new midfielder or not this summer.
Ferdinand backs Tchouameni move
United legend Rio Ferdinand has been calling for United to go all-out to sign Tchouameni this summer. He said on his own YouTube show: “My biggest thing about it (Mourinho going to Real Madrid) is are United going to get Tchouameni? Because I keep seeing that talked about, and he’d be one of the first midfielders on my list if we had a possibility of getting someone to go in there to replace Casemiro. Tchouameni would be that guy.
“Do you know what? I know I’ve been sitting here saying that Jose is going to be the man to reintegrate Tchouameni and Valverde together and keep them at Real Madrid.
“But I’ve got to say, if Tchouameni has a half a sniff of getting out of that club, Man Utd have to be the first team at the door knocking and make sure he can’t even talk to anybody else. Get him signed, sealed, delivered.”
Man Utd Get Green Light To Sign ‘Dream’ Transfer Target As Club Listen To Offers
Manchester United may have been given a clear path to sign a dream transfer target this summer, as links continue to heat up.
Goals were extremely hard to come by for Tottenham’s attacking players last season.
As a result, Spurs found themselves falling down the Premier League table at an alarming rate towards the drop zone.
Defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha, who was second in the club’s goalscoring charts for the term with seven goals, scored the all-important goal on the final day of the season in the 1-0 win over Everton to preserve the club’s Premier League status.
Amid the struggle for goals, Tottenham have plenty of work to do in the transfer market in an attacking sense once the signings of midfielders Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali for a joint fee of £185m are officially confirmed.
Kroupi tops three-man shortlist
Tottenham are targeting a new left-sided forward for the new season and Bournemouth ace Eli Junior Kroupi tops a three-man shortlist, according to The Independent.
The 20-year-old only made his debut for the Cherries last August after remaining with French side Lorient for the remainder of the 2024/25 season after the clubs struck a £10m agreement back in February 2025.
Kroupi proved to be an instant hit for the Cherries in an incredible debut season for the club, scoring 13 times and earning a nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year award in the process.
The France Under-21 international has come to the attention of clubs as a result of his sparkling form, with Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain keen on his services.
Bournemouth, if they decide to sell, will make a huge profit on their player and a figure upwards of £80million has been mooted.
The Independent report that Rafael Leao of AC Milan has been broached as an option in informal discussions with the Serie A giants, and there is still the possibility that they move for Savinho.
The Manchester City ace was heavily linked with Tottenham last summer but a transfer for the Brazilian never materialised, with Kroupi now appearing to move ahead of him as a target as Tottenham look to strengthen down the left.
A “generational talent”
Tottenham could well add a “generational talent” to their squad if they strike a deal with Bournemouth for Kroupi.
Speaking back in January, Bournemouth player Marcus Tavernier waxed lyrical about his teammate following their 3-2 defeat against Arsenal, a game in which the attacker added another goal to his tally for the season.
“I’ve said before, Junior is a generational talent,” said Tavernier, as reported by Bournemouth’s official website. “The club has done an amazing job to pick Kroupi up.
“That boy has an unbelievable future ahead of him and today he showed why he’s such a good talent in the world of football.”
Attacking reinforcements are needed at Liverpool ahead of the 2026/27 season as they look to right the wrongs of the previous campaign.
The favourites to win the Premier League last summer after splashing the cash in the weeks after their title triumph, the Reds endured a dismal year and finished the season in fifth under Arne Slot.
The team’s struggles ultimately resulted in the Dutchman losing his job, with Andoni Iraola the man to come in and replace him following his incredible work at Bournemouth.
Much more will be expected this season of Liverpool, who have so far signed defender Jeremy Jacquet and winger Victor Munoz.
Liverpool have the small matter of trying to replace club legend Mohamed Salah and Reds fans are hoping that another attacking signing arrives ahead of the new term.
Possible Barcola movement
According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are “really, really keen’ on French international Bradley Barcola as they get their plans in place for the new season.
The 23-year-old has made quite a name for himself in the French capital since moving from Lyon in 2023, notably helping Luis Enrique’s side win back-to-back Champions League titles after such a long wait for Europe’s top prize.
Competing with the wealth of attacking options at Enrique’s disposal, Barcola contributed 13 goals in all competitions last season, but there has been some speculation regarding a potential move away from the Parc des Princes, especially with Yan Diomande a potential incoming.
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Speaking on the HereWeGo podcast, Romano opened up on Barcola’s future and mentioned both Liverpool and Arsenal when discussing the youngster, who could command a transfer fee of over £116m.
He said: “I’m not going to say Barcola is not for sale at the end of June because I think there is still the possibility to see some movement, with Liverpool really interested, with Barcola also on Arsenal’s list. But Liverpool are really, really keen on the player.”
Barcola’s World Cup role
Barcola’s 2025/26 season could get even better if France go all the way and win the World Cup final later this month.
Already getting his hands on five trophies this season with his club side, France are the current favourites to lift the famous trophy in New Jersey on Sunday, July 19.
Didier Deschamps has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal in terms of his attack, with Barcola so far rotating with club teammate Desire Doue in France’s fearsome front four.
Barcola has managed to chip in with two goals this tournament, including one last time out against Sweden in the Round of 32, and you wouldn’t bet against him adding to his tally with Les Bleus expected to reach the final.
The former Lyon man would give Liverpool a noticeable upgrade in the left-wing position if he signed, helping the club to finally replace Luis Diaz following his move to Bayern Munich last summer.
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