Revealed: How much money West Brom can expect to bank in the Premier League next season

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West Bromwich Albion kissed goodbye to the Championship, after a two-year fling, when they secured automatic promotion on a nervy last day.

A draw with QPR in the final round of fixtures was enough to take second spot and ensured the Baggies would avoid the lottery of the play-offs, which proved their undoing the previous season.

Slaven Bilic has already begun preparations for an assault on the Premier League.

Clearly the squad will need strengthening, but the Croatian will have an enhanced budget to work with.

That’s because the club are due a massive windfall in TV rights cash and merit payments from the Premier League, regardless of where they finish in the table.

The Premier League is yet to confirm its prize money breakdown for the 2019/20 campaign, with the figures to be released ‘in due course’.

But, even factoring in the £330 million COVID-19 rebate – agreed with TV companies (domestic broadcasters £223m, overseas £107m) for the delayed matches and absence of crowds – top-flight chairmen will still be laughing all the way to bank.

Norwich City are expected to have to pay an £11.5 million rebate, yet are still likely to bank more than £80 million, just for finishing bottom. 

According to latest estimates, complied by respected football finance blog Swiss Ramble, clubs are set to earn £48.8 million from overseas TV income, a £31.8 million equal share payment and a £5 million central commercial award.

Clubs are also due a merit payment, determined by where they finish in the table, and facility fees depending on how many times they have been shown live on TV in the UK.

The sum Norwich will receive is likely to be nine times that which Albion pulled in this season in the Championship, away from matchday income, sponsorship and other commercial revenue streams.

© PA Slaven Bilic

It’s thought West Brom earned around £9 million in TV cash and merit payments from the EFL, despite being shown live on TV 26 times.

Albion were due a £4.5 million solidarity payment and a £2.2 million basic award from the EFL as well as a merit payment of around £1 million for finishing second and facility fees in the region of £1.5 million.

West Brom’s transfer budget last summer was bumped up by a £34.8 million parachute payment, the club’s second since leaving the Premier League.

But it goes without saying, Bilic can afford to be a little more upmarket with his transfer targets this summer.