Record sales and new league format: Belgian Pro League CEO on sustaining Belgium’s export-first model
IMAGO | Lorin Parys believes the Belgian Pro League’s positive transfer balance of €237 million underlines the league’s identity as a developer and exporter of talent.
Belgian Pro League CEO, Lorin Parys, reflects on the state of the league in an interview with Off The Pitch. From record transfer revenue this summer, to the possibility of a merged league with the Eredivisie, and a new league format starting next season.
This summer’s transfer window brought €384 million in outgoing sales and a positive balance of €237 million - an all-time record.
Why it matters: Player development and trading are the league’s lifeblood. Without transfer revenues, Belgian clubs would struggle to stay competitive, and the league would lose its position as a key supplier of talent to Europe’s top divisions.
The perspective: Belgium’s experience underlines the choices medium-sized leagues must make to remain relevant as the Big Five pull further ahead, by rethinking formats, considering cross-border cooperation, and finding smarter ways to grow.
24 September 2025 - 5:39 PM
When Lorin Parys took over as CEO of the Belgian Pro League in March 2022, he stepped into a role at the crossroads of opportunity and constraint. Belgian football cannot match Europe’s biggest leagues in terms of broadcasting revenues or financial muscle, and Parys makes no secret of that reality.
Instead, he argues the league should play to its strengths: develop players, create the conditions for clubs to stay competitive, and keep f
Get smarter in minutes. Straight to your inbox
21-day free trial
Activate instantly with the link we’ll send you.
