Media Team
Football icon John Barnes, the first player to earn £10,000 weekly, has addressed his tax issues publicly.
The former Liverpool and Watford star revealed he has been settling payments with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for eight years following significant financial losses from poorly managed investments.
He appeared on the All Things Business podcast to correct what he claims are inaccurate reports about his financial situation.
Barnes shared that he has repaid approximately £2.2 million since 2017 and currently fulfills a monthly payment of £10,000 under agreed terms with the tax authority.
Last April, the Insolvency Service barred Barnes, now 60, from serving as a company director after his business failed to settle £190,000 in taxes.
Earlier this August, reports surfaced that HMRC filed a petition against him at the High Court for unpaid debts totaling £1.5 million.
On the podcast, the England legend stated: “I earned substantial amounts during my career, being the first footballer to make £10,000 a week and enjoying those benefits for years. Like many athletes, I trusted the wrong people and lost between £1m and £1.5m over four years.
“In 2017, I started discussions with HMRC to arrange repayment of my dues.”
He explained that whenever new petitions arise, he and his legal team attend court to negotiate payment plans, avoiding bankruptcy.
Barnes added: “I understand the struggles people face. I’m not exploiting loopholes or hiding assets—I’ve sold everything and own nothing. Yet, media narratives wrongly suggest I’m evading taxes while I’m actively paying.
“As a product of working-class football, I don’t want fans believing I hoard wealth while refusing to contribute. Bankruptcy would be an easy way out, but there’s nothing left to take from me.”
He admitted that negative publicity has hurt his opportunities, particularly in banking and finance sectors, where companies have stopped hiring him for speaking engagements.
Despite this, Barnes continues to earn through professional work, refusing to let financial struggles dampen his outlook.
“I’ve lost sleep, but compared to global hardships, I’m fortunate. I’m grateful to still work, pay my bills, and provide for my family.
“I speak out now to counter false narratives. I won’t accept being labeled as a tax-dodging ex-footballer when I’ve done everything to meet my obligations.”
Barnes earned 79 caps for England between 1983 and 1995 and later managed Celtic after retiring as a player.
