Many successful sporting professionals enjoy wealth, fame, and an elite lifestyle during and beyond their careers, but the career may be limited in time. The financial consequences of a divorce or separation can be substantial.

The recent cases of (Kyle) Walker and (Geremi) Fotso highlight the concerns of the elite football community and the impact divorce has on the financial and emotional well-being of players and their managers. This impact is not restricted to the football fraternity and can be equally burdensome on those who are not married but have children and are separating.
To focus the players on their sport, managers encourage them to settle down and tie the knot as early as possible. Consequently, an athlete’s average age of marriage can be significantly lower than the national average. An athlete’s earning potential may peak in their twenties to early thirties, making their high-earning period short and early in life. Beyond this period, wealth creation and earning potential may be significantly lower. Furthermore, injuries may severely impact earning potential.

Planning a career post-elite sport retirement while coping with divorce can be particularly challenging. While it may be the last thing on an athlete’s mind during the rise of their career and while settling with a partner, it is vital to consider the impact of a divorce or separation. A well-drafted and carefully considered prenuptial, postnuptial, or cohabitation agreement can help protect wealth.

This is not limited to marriage. Those who are not married but live together, are separated, and have a child or children must carefully consider the future and plan accordingly.
Even when not married, if there is a child or children from the relationship, the partner could make applications for financial provisions on behalf of the child/children under the Children Act 1989. These claims could be for maintenance, carer’s allowance, property, and/or educational costs and expenses. Where an order for property is secured, it is likely the property will revert to the athlete once the child/children reach the age of majority, but this is not guaranteed, and each case will be decided on its own facts. An unnamed footballer, in the late stage of his professional career, successfully appealed an order in 2015 to reduce the amount of child maintenance payment as it was deemed to be an erroneously high proportion of his income.
While athletes, and particularly footballers, have been the subjects of such discussions, it is important for anyone in a short professional non-sport career with high income to consider matters fully, make adequate plans, take advice early, and consider the consequences of divorce or breakdown of their relationship.

Tariq M Ahmad FCILEx
Partner and Head of Family
© May 2025