Who Is The New Owner Of Newcastle United F.C.

Newcastle United Football Club, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, is a professional football team competing in the Premier League.

Established in 1892, they play home matches at St James’ Park, a 52,374-capacity stadium in the city center. The club has won four League titles, six FA Cups, and the 1968–69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

Their most successful period was between 1904 and 1910, with multiple trophies secured. The team was relegated in 2009 and 2016, they returned to the Premier League as champions each time.

Newcastle United F.C. Ownership History

Newcastle United Football Club has undergone several ownership changes since its establishment. On September 6, 1895, the club was set up as a private company limited by shares.

For much of the 20th century, the McKeag, Westwood, and Seymour families controlled the club. This changed in 1991 when businessman John Hall bought a 72.9% stake for £3 million.

In April 1997, Hall floated the club on the stock exchange, turning it into a public limited company. His family retained less than half of the shares, with the majority going to his business partner, Freddy Shepherd.

Later that year, Hall stepped down as chairman, and Shepherd took over, with Hall’s son, Douglas, joining the board to represent the family.

In December 1998, media company NTL purchased a 6.3% stake in Newcastle United for £10 million and considered a full takeover.

However, the plan was abandoned due to concerns raised by the newly formed Competition Commission about media companies owning football clubs.

In 2007, the club underwent another major change when businessman Mike Ashley purchased the combined 41% stake held by John and Douglas Hall through his holding company, St James Holdings.

Ashley then acquired additional shares and, by July 2007, owned 95% of the club, forcing the remaining shareholders to sell their shares.

After securing full ownership, he appointed Chris Mort as chairman. Ashley’s tenure was seen by multiple attempts to sell the club. The first attempt was in 2008, following fan protests over the resignation of manager Kevin Keegan.

Ashley announced his intention to sell, stating, “I have listened to you. You want me out. That is what I am now trying to do.”

However, the club was taken off the market by December 2008 due to a lack of buyers. In 2009, Ashley again attempted to sell Newcastle United, setting the asking price at £100 million.

By the end of August that year, the club was removed from the market once more. In October 2017, Newcastle United announced that Ashley had put the club up for sale for the third time. He expressed hope that a deal would be finalized by Christmas, though this did not materialize.

Who Is The New Owner Of Newcastle United F.C.?

The current owner of Newcastle United Football Club is a consortium led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, PCP Capital Partners, and RB Sports & Media.

This group officially completed the acquisition of Newcastle United on October 7, 2021. The takeover process faced many challenges, controversies, and delays before it was finalized, which began in April 2020.

However, the process was met with criticism due to concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and allegations of sports piracy in the region.

These issues caused delays and drew the attention of British MPs, who questioned the Premier League’s role in the approval process. Some MPs even called for the government to block the deal.

In July 2020, the Saudi group announced that they were withdrawing their interest in the purchase. They cited the prolonged process and complications, including Saudi Arabia’s ban on the broadcaster beIN Sports, as major factors in their decision.

This announcement disappointed many Newcastle fans, who blamed the Premier League for mishandling the situation. Despite the withdrawal, negotiations and legal disputes continued.

In September 2020, Newcastle United accused the Premier League of rejecting the takeover without proper reason. The Premier League denied this, but tensions remained high.

Meanwhile, pressure from fans, legal actions, and behind-the-scenes negotiations pushed the deal forward. The takeover was finalized in October 2021 after the Premier League received legally binding assurances that the Saudi state would not control the club.

However, questions about the relationship between the PIF and the Saudi government have persisted. Amnesty International and other groups have called for the Premier League to re-examine the deal, citing concerns over Saudi Arabia’s involvement.

As of now, Newcastle United is under the management of the PIF-led consortium, with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor, serving as the club’s chairman.

Newcastle United Takeover Worth

Newcastle United F.C. has seen a major boost in value since its takeover by a Saudi-led consortium in October 2021. The club was bought for £305 million, but as of July 2024, it is now valued at over £1 billion ($1.3 billion).

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia holds an 80% stake in Newcastle United and has invested around £607.9 million since the takeover.

These funds have been used to improve key areas such as player recruitment, training facilities, and overall club operations. This investment has helped the club grow financially and achieve better results on the pitch.

Darren Eales, the club’s Chief Executive Officer, reported that Newcastle’s revenues have exceeded £300 million. The current valuation puts Newcastle United in the same league as big clubs like AC Milan, which sold for $1.3 billion in 2022.

The owners have ambitious plans to continue growing the club’s value, with a potential target of reaching £2.5 billion in the future.

This is part of a trend in the Premier League, where club valuations are rising due to high broadcasting revenues and expanding commercial opportunities.

Ken Anucha

Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.