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Former Liverpool and England footballer John Barnes has been declared bankrupt after his media company accumulated debts of over £1.5 million.
A bankruptcy notice was published in the London Gazette on September 30, following a petition filed by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in August. The order was issued by the High Court of Justice on September 23.
According to reports, HMRC stated that John Barnes Media Limited, now in liquidation, owed:
- £776,878 in unpaid VAT, National Insurance, and PAYE,
- £461,849 to unsecured creditors, and
- £226,000 as a director’s loan.
Barnes has faced multiple bankruptcy petitions in the past, including one in 2023 relating to a £238,000 personal tax bill, which was resolved.
In 2023, he was disqualified from serving as a company director for three and a half years following an investigation by the Insolvency Service, which found that his company failed to pay over £190,000 in tax between 2018 and 2020, despite earning a turnover of £441,798.
In a recent podcast interview, Barnes stated that he has been working with HMRC since 2017 to repay debts and claims to have paid back approximately £2.2 million. He said he continues to make monthly payments of £10,000 as part of an arrangement with the tax authority.
Barnes attributed his financial difficulties to poor investment decisions and trusted advisors, which he said led to losses between £1 million and £1.5 million.
He also stated that he no longer owns any assets and has complied with court proceedings related to the matter.
Barnes was capped 79 times for England and played for clubs including Watford and Liverpool during his career.
