It included the AFL's $2 million fine from the AFL and the legal costs involved with the season-long ASADA investigation.
Essendon announced its financial results on Tuesday, with the club reporting an overall profit of $2.148 million for the financial year.
That included $5.3 million of funds received for the new high performance training facility at Melbourne Airport.
"It has been a difficult year both on and off the field for the club with a number of unbudgeted costs contributing to our financial result," Essendon chief executive Ray Gunston said.
"The overall profit of $2.148 million is slightly misleading as the result includes funds received this year for the development of the new training facility at Melbourne Airport."
In September the Bombers announced they were in long-term debt for the first time, after they borrowed $5 million to complete building works at the Tullamarine centre.
"With the investment of $20.5 million in the new training and administration facility this year, the club has exhausted its cash reserves and has therefore drawn down $5 million of its $7 million debt facilities," Gunston said.
"Although the club had planned for this, it is important that the club works hard to reduce this debt over the coming years.
"Importantly, from a financial perspective, the club remains in a sound position to pay down this debt quickly, aiming to be debt free by 2015/2016."
