Last week’s English football sweep saw Arsenal, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace lock spots in Europe’s top three finals, a first for an English trio. Arsenal’s 1‑0 win over Atlético Madrid secured a Champions League berth, while Villa’s 4‑0 rout of Nottingham Forest landed them in the Europa final, and Palace edged Shakhtar 2‑1.

The result fuels debate over UEFA’s new spending rules, which cap club budgets against income. Premier League clubs generate far higher revenues than their continental peers—Aston Villa posted £378mn last season versus SC Freiburg’s €163mn—giving English sides a financial edge in Europa and Conference League play.

Meanwhile, the NBA is courting investors for its €500mn‑$1bn‑valued European league, auctioning 12 permanent slots and promising guaranteed annual payments and higher performance fees. The NBA plans to inject at least $3bn into the launch, aiming to make the $500mn‑$1bn team bids more attractive by reducing upfront risk.

The latest deal in US sports—San Diego Padres’ $3.9bn sale—shows how banks like William Blair and boutique firm Inner Circle are shaping the sport‑asset class. Their involvement signals a growing appetite for high‑value sports investments, suggesting that NBA Europe’s ambitious model could attract similar capital if the financial framework proves solid.