For many athletes and entertainers, the UK remains a cornerstone of their property ambitions—even when their career takes them abroad. A footballer might be playing in Spain or Italy but still want a London base for his family. A musician may tour globally but see a UK home as an anchor. An actor filming in Los Angeles may still wish to invest in a townhouse in Chelsea.

The challenge? Lenders are wary of foreign income, cross-border tax arrangements, and the complexity of proving affordability across jurisdictions. For high street banks, this often leads to declined applications or severely restricted lending. But with the right structuring and lender selection, international borrowers can and do secure substantial property finance in the UK.

This blog explores how athletes and entertainers manage the realities of buying in Britain while working abroad, what lenders look for in 2025, and how Willow helps clients overcome cross-border barriers.

Why UK property remains a magnet

Despite global careers, many athletes and entertainers choose to buy in the UK. For some, it’s about family stability—ensuring children are settled in British schools even when parents are travelling. For others, it’s about investment. London remains one of the world’s most resilient property markets, offering long-term capital growth and international prestige.

There is also an emotional dimension. For British athletes who spend years playing overseas, owning a property in the UK is a way of staying connected to home. For global entertainers, it can be a statement of permanence, securing a base in one of the world’s cultural capitals.

Why lenders hesitate

The issue is not the desire to own in the UK but the way income is earned abroad. Lenders face three main concerns. First, there is currency risk: someone paid in euros or dollars could find affordability shifting if exchange rates move sharply. Second, there is tax complexity: earnings must often be declared in more than one jurisdiction, and lenders want assurance that obligations are being met. Third, there is documentation clarity: foreign contracts, payslips, and statements are often presented in different formats, which slows underwriting and invites caution.

For high street banks, whose processes depend on standardised documents, these factors are often deal-breakers. They either apply steep “haircuts” to income—discounting 20 to 50 percent of its value—or decline the application altogether.

How private banks approach international borrowers

Private banks take a more flexible view. Rather than discarding foreign income, they ask: is it reliable, is it documented, and can the risks be mitigated? If the answer is yes, they are willing to lend.

For example, a Premier League player transferred to a club in Spain may still secure a mortgage in London if he can provide contracts, tax filings, and evidence of consistent salary payments. Similarly, a musician touring the U.S. might qualify for UK property finance if royalties are properly documented and residual income is supported by historic performance.

As we discussed in Private Client Finance in 2025: Tailored Lending for Complex Profiles, private banks specialise in assessing the whole picture: not just current income, but assets under management, protection strategies, and long-term wealth.

Structuring solutions that work

The most successful applications share a common trait: they anticipate lender concerns before they are raised. That often means converting complex foreign earnings into a lender-ready narrative.

One approach is to hedge currency exposure, demonstrating that fluctuations in exchange rates won’t derail affordability. Another is to present tax residency clearly, with professional confirmation from accountants. For entertainers, audited royalty statements or catalogue valuations can carry more weight than uneven raw statements. For athletes, protection policies—such as career-ending injury insurance—help lenders view contracts as more dependable.

In many cases, borrowers also strengthen their applications by holding assets under management with the lending bank. This allows the bank to take comfort not only from income but from wealth, making them more open to international earnings.

An illustrative example

Imagine a professional footballer playing in Italy on a €5 million annual contract. His wife and children live in London, where he wishes to buy a £4 million family home. A high street lender might refuse to consider the euro income at all or apply a discount that leaves him unable to borrow the required amount.

A private bank, however, reviews the contract in detail, examines his tax filings in both Italy and the UK, and considers his existing investment portfolio. They also request evidence of a currency hedge that stabilises affordability against sterling. With these measures in place, the bank approves a 70 percent loan-to-value mortgage, enabling the purchase.

The success lies not in the income itself—it was always there—but in how it was presented and protected.

The importance of timing

Career mobility adds another challenge: timing. Athletes are often transferred with little notice; entertainers may secure a contract overseas on short timelines. This creates urgency.

High street lenders, with slow underwriting cycles, rarely move at the required pace. Private banks, by contrast, can process bespoke applications quickly if documentation is complete. As we explained in How Fast Can Bridging Finance Be Arranged?, some clients bridge the gap with short-term loans, completing quickly and refinancing later when longer-term structures are ready.

For international borrowers, this strategy can be especially powerful. A quick bridging loan secures the property before a transfer window closes; refinancing later ensures affordability is aligned with the new career.

Avoiding common pitfalls

The most frequent mistake is underestimating documentation requirements. Foreign payslips without translation, incomplete contracts, or vague tax declarations almost guarantee delays. Another pitfall is assuming that being wealthy is enough; lenders still want to see clarity, not just numbers. Finally, many borrowers fail to plan for transparency, believing that offshore structures or corporate vehicles will obscure ownership, when in reality UK rules demand disclosure.

As we discussed in Managing Reputation, Privacy & Discretion in Mortgage Applications, privacy must be balanced with compliance. The best outcomes come when clients accept the disclosure requirements but manage them carefully, limiting the number of eyes on sensitive documents.

How Willow supports international buyers

At Willow, our role is to bring order to complexity. For athletes and entertainers buying in the UK while working abroad, we act as translators—turning foreign contracts, royalty flows, and global income into a lender-ready story.

We coordinate with accountants to provide tax residency confirmation, ensure documents are properly translated and verified, and match the client to lenders who are comfortable with international earnings. Where privacy is a concern, we manage the process tightly, sharing information only with those who need it.

The result is that clients secure the UK homes they want without unnecessary delays or rejections.

Conclusion

Buying property in the UK while working abroad is not easy, especially for athletes and entertainers with complex income streams. But with preparation, clarity, and the right lender, it is entirely achievable.

The key is to anticipate lender concerns—currency risk, tax complexity, documentation—and address them upfront. High street banks may hesitate, but private banks and specialist lenders will engage if the financial story is well presented. For athletes and entertainers, this means turning international careers into stable UK property ownership.

At Willow, we make that possible.

📞 Playing or performing abroad but buying in the UK?

Talk to Willow. We’ll structure your case, manage the paperwork, and secure the approval you need.