The former great English international went bankrupt! »What amounts came to owe Liverpool's legend
Article by Daniel Scorpie – published Tuesday, September 30, 2025 21:05 / Updated Tuesday, September 30, 2025:00
John Barnes (61 years old), the former international with 79 matches and 10 goals in the representative of England, went bankrupt, after his debts reached 1.5 million pounds (1.72 million euros). The decision refers to the company John Barnes Media, liquidated in the meantime. The former peak had been forbidden to hold the position of director for three and a half years due to debts.
The legend of the national of England and the Liverpool club was declared bankrupt after its company accumulated debts of 1.5 million pounds. The Supreme Court of Justice issued the bankruptcy order against John Barnes on September 23, the announcement being published in London Gazette.
John Barnes won 2 titles, 2 cups, a League cup and 3 England supercurs with Liverpool
Joihn Barnes Na reimbursed only 60,000 pounds!
The past striker also in Newcastle and Watford owes 776,878 VAT pounds, taxes and other unpaid taxes, 461,849 pounds to the non -payment creditors, a loan of 226,000 pounds granted to directors and liquidation costs of 56,535 pounds.
So far, he reimbursed £ 60,000 after accepting to return the loan of directors in installments. Barnes received six separate bankruptcy requests from 2010.
8Trophy won John Barnes with Liverpool, which he played for a decade (1987-1997), including two champion titles. In 406 matches, he scored 107 goals, offering 92 assists
At the Podcast All Things Business, Barnes approached what he considers to be “misleading reports” about his financial situation and said he has reimbursed about 2.2 million pounds in 2017 and continues to pay 10,000 pounds each month.
The mural that Liverpool i dedicated to John Barnes on the occasion of the match with PSG in the Champions League / Photo: Imago
“I was caught a few times and I got to lose between 1 million and 1.5 million pounds in four years.”
“I was earning a lot of money, I was the first footballer to receive £ 10,000 weekly and I benefited from this for a few years. Like many elite athletes, I was harmed because I trusted people, I was caught a few times and I got to lose between 1 million and 1.5 million pounds in four years.
In 2017, I started talking to the Treasury about what I could do to reimburse the debt I had. “Barnes said that when his requests were handed, he presented before the court to make payment arrangements, in an attempt to avoid bankruptcy.
I know how hard it is for ordinary people. I do not want to say that there are gaps in the law, or that I can escape with it or another, or to make people believe they can be declared bankrupt and keep my goods, because I have already sold everything. I have no good anymore
John Barnes. former great English striker
In the press there are negative articles about the fact that I do not pay my taxes, even if I go to the court not to be declared bankrupt, but to ask for permission to continue to pay.
John Barnes (in the middle) in the T-shirt of the 1988 England national in the match with Ireland (0-1) / Photo: Imago
Football is a working class and I do not want people who work hard to believe that I have all this money and do not pay taxes. It would be easy to be declared bankrupt, because I can not take anything else. ”
Barnes's company entered into liquidation 2 years after paying taxes worth over 190,000 pounds.
