Gary Lineker Secures Lucrative Deal Following BBC Departure

Gary Lineker is said to have secured a multi-million-pound contract with Netflix to host The Rest Is Football podcast during the World Cup next summer in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 

The Sun indicates that the former England forward's production company, Goalhanger, has reached an agreement to sell the show's rights to the American streaming giant.

The source suggests that his new deal surpasses his previous BBC contract, where he earned £1.35 million for presenting Match of the Day and other events.

This means Lineker will compete against his former BBC colleagues during the tournament next summer as Netflix launches its podcasting venture.

The Rest Is Football is set to air daily, moving from its current three-times-a-week schedule, with co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards. 

The BBC ended its licensing deal with The Rest Is Football in May, though the podcast is still available on various platforms and has garnered over eight million views on YouTube.

The announcement is anticipated for Tuesday. An insider told the publication, "This deal is exciting, and Gary is on cloud nine. It ensures his presence at the World Cup as planned."

"This marks Netflix's initial venture into football programming, featuring a daily show centred on the podcast.

"This move will also introduce Gary to an entirely new international audience.

"Netflix approached his company several months ago, and his son Harry, who is a producer, will be joining him in the States, making it a true family experience."

Lineker left the BBC earlier this year after a social media post regarding Zionism, which included a rat emoji historically used as an antisemitic symbol.

The 65-year-old shared a sincere statement on social media, later announcing his departure by mutual consent and expressing sorrow for any offence caused by the post, noting he hadn't realised the presence of the rat when he reshared it.

In a heartfelt social media update following the incident, Lineker claimed: "Football has been central to my life for as long as I can remember, both on the field and in the studio. I am passionate about the game and the work I've done with the BBC over the years.

"As stated, I would never intentionally repost anything antisemitic—it contradicts my core values.

"Nevertheless, I acknowledge the mistake and distress I caused, and I reiterate my apologies. Stepping back feels like the right decision."

Lineker has long been an advocate for human rights and has previously had disagreements with his former employer over the BBC's impartiality rules.

He was temporarily removed from Match of the Day in 2023 after drawing analogies between the then-Conservative government's asylum policies and Nazi-era Germany in the 1930s.

Co-hosts Shearer and Ian Wright subsequently refused to appear on the show in solidarity, though it aired without any on-air commentary after the matches.