Despite being relegated from the Bundesliga, VfL Bochum achieved record profits last season. A forecast for the current season has also been announced.

Despite being relegated from the Bundesliga, VfL Bochum earned more money last season than ever before. This was announced by VfL managing director Ilja Kaenzig on Tuesday evening at the club’s general meeting.

Revenue for the past season amounted to a good €96 million. Overall, VfL recorded a profit of €6.45 million, after officials had originally expected a surplus of only €1 million.

Among other things, the profit was achieved because the club saved on the salaries of former coaches Thomas Letsch and Peter Zeidler after their contracts were terminated during the season. In addition, streaming provider DAZN paid a high rate in arrears. The sale of the stadium center to the municipal property company also contributed to the surplus. The relegation also played a role, as VfL had to pay its players fewer points bonuses and no relegation bonuses at all. However, the relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga has a significant impact on the current fiscal year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026). Revenue is falling significantly and is expected to be around €65 million. This is mainly due to a €17.9 million drop in TV revenue and a €6.4 million drop in advertising revenue.

Equity at the end of June amounted to €9.7 million and is expected to fall to €5.2 million after this season – following a profit in the previous season, VfL has now calculated a corresponding loss of €4.5 million. Kaenzig said that the profit in the previous season meant that a “strategic loss” could be accepted.

Kaenzig also announced that the club is on track to be debt-free by 2027. In recent years, VfL has reduced millions in long-term liabilities, such as the KfW loan from 2020, due to the coronavirus crisis. By June 2026, the debt level is expected to be only €300,000, and by March 2027, the debt should be completely paid off. The licensing budget for the professionals for this season is around €21.6 million. This puts VfL in the top third of the 2nd division. However, Bochum is only average in terms of transfer income. Therefore, it is the clear goal of the club to increase transfer revenues to “at least €8 to €10 million per season.” By way of comparison, this summer’s income from player sales amounted to just under €5 million.

You can follow the general meeting live on the WAZ website and find out more about the background to the figures.