UEFA to distribute €31.5 million to clubs for releasing players for Nations League

UEFA will distribute €31.5 million ($35.7 million) to clubs that released players for the 2024-25 Nations League, European soccer's governing body said on Tuesday.

The payments are the first under the UEFA Club Benefits Programme cycle, which forms part of a memorandum of understanding between UEFA and European Football Clubs (EFC), an organisation representing more than 800 clubs across Europe.

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The programme is part of a wider €104 million allocation for clubs releasing players for the 2024-25 and 2026-27 Nations League editions, as well as the qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2028.

The latest payments will benefit 611 clubs across all UEFA member associations, including several amateur clubs, UEFA said.

German club RB Leipzig will receive the highest compensation in the current distribution, with approximately €353,000 for releasing 16 players for Nations League duty.

“The payments form part of the €104 million allocated to clubs releasing players for the 2024-25 and 2026-27 UEFA Nations League and the qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2028,” UEFA said in a statement.

Portugal defeated Spain on penalties in the 2025 Nations League final to claim the title.

The 2026-27 edition of the competition began last week, with teams competing across the four divisions in the latest edition of UEFA's international tournament.