Liverpool Football Club can confirm that all of its staff and workers will be paid the real living wage as a minimum from the start of the next financial year, June 2018.

The voluntary commitment comes following extensive discussions with The Living Wage Foundation and Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool city region, which have taken place over recent months.

By moving definitively towards becoming an accredited living wage employer, Liverpool FC has committed itself to a significant additional salary expenditure which will see all casual workers benefit from the real living wage in the same way that our directly employed staff already do.

“We hope that this development demonstrates how highly we value all of those who work for Liverpool Football Club in whatever capacity that may be,” said LFC chief executive, Peter Moore.

“During the course of our discussions with both Steve and the Living Wage Foundation we examined a range of issues but the intention of all involved, not least ourselves, was always the same – to reach an outcome which would be of greatest benefit to our workforce.

“We feel that today’s announcement shows that this objective has been achieved and we are grateful to Steve and the Living Wage Foundation for the roles they played in helping us to reach this point.

“Although the possibility existed for us to preside over a phased introduction of elements of the scheme we have opted instead to implement it in its entirety at the earliest possible opportunity in a further demonstration of our commitment to all of our employees.

“As a club, we have paid the national minimum wage at the higher rate only for many years and in June this year we ensured that all directly employed staff were paid at least the real living wage. By taking the next step, we are not adhering to an obligation, we are doing it because we feel it is the right thing to do.”

Steve Rotheram added: “As mayor of the Liverpool city region, I am delighted that Liverpool Football Club has taken this step and is now committed to becoming a Real Living Wage Employer. Not only does it show them to be a responsible and progressive employer that respects and fairly rewards all its employees, but their status as one of the world’s biggest football clubs means that their actions in this respect have set an example which others will hopefully now follow. I want our city region to be at the forefront of promoting fair employment and a socially just economy. It’s enormously pleasing that our Premier League football clubs share this aspiration.”