Who Is The Owner Of Arsenal Football Club

• Ken Anucha
• December 16, 2024

Arsenal Football Club, founded in 1886, is a professional team based in North London. Known as “The Gunners,” they are one of England’s most successful clubs.

Arsenal has won 13 league titles and holds the record for the most FA Cup wins, with 14 victories. They are famous for their unbeaten season in 2003-04, earning them the nickname “The Invincibles.” The club plays at the Emirates Stadium, which has a capacity of nearly 60,000 fans.

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Who Is The Owner Of Arsenal Football Club?

Arsenal Football Club, one of the most famous football teams in the world, is owned by Stan Kroenke through his company, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE).

Stan Kroenke is a billionaire businessman from the United States who owns several sports teams across different leagues.

He became involved with Arsenal in 2007 and has gradually increased his stake in the club. Today, he is the sole owner of Arsenal Football Club.

Kroenke’s journey with Arsenal began in April 2007 when he bought a 9.9% stake in the club from ITV, a British television company. At first, Arsenal fans and some board members met this move with skepticism.

However, over time, he became an important part of the club’s ownership and joined the board as a non-executive director in September 2008.

By May 2009, Kroenke had increased his shares to 28.3% after purchasing shares from several key stakeholders, including Danny Fiszman and the Carr family. This made him the largest shareholder at the time.

However, there was competition from Red & White Holdings, a group led by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov and Farhad Moshiri.

Red & White Holdings owned a large portion of Arsenal shares, creating a rivalry between the two ownership groups. Kroenke eventually took his control over Arsenal in 2011.

He purchased additional shares from board members like Nina Bracewell-Smith and Danny Fiszman, which brought his ownership to 66.64%.

According to UK laws, Kroenke was then required to offer to buy all remaining shares. While some shareholders held onto their stakes, Kroenke continued to buy shares over the years.

In 2018, he became the sole owner of Arsenal when he bought Usmanov’s shares. This move gave him 100% control of the club.

In March 2023, Stan Kroenke and his son, Josh Kroenke, were appointed as co-chairmen of Arsenal in a board restructuring. While Stan Kroenke’s ownership has brought financial stability to Arsenal, it has also been controversial among fans.

Some supporters feel disconnected from the club’s leadership and have criticized the lack of investment in the team during certain periods. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed focus on improving the squad and competing at the highest level.

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Arsenal Owner Before Kroenke

Before Stan Kroenke became the owner of Arsenal Football Club, the club went through many phases under different leaders. The story of Arsenal began with David Danskin, who helped form a football team called Dial Square in 1886.

This was a group of workers from the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich who chipped in small amounts of money to buy a ball and other basic equipment.

With time, this small team developed into Royal Arsenal, then Woolwich Arsenal, and eventually Arsenal as we know it today. In 1910, the club was struggling financially, and Henry Norris stepped in to save it.

Norris was a businessman who moved the club from Woolwich to Highbury in North London, aiming to attract larger crowds and better opportunities.

His decisions were controversial, especially when Arsenal was promoted to the First Division under suspicious circumstances in 1919. The Hill-Wood family became central to Arsenal’s history when Samuel Hill-Wood took charge.

Coming from a wealthy background, he ensured Arsenal had financial stability and could attract top talent. Under his leadership, the club hired Herbert Chapman, who turned Arsenal into a winning team for the first time.

The Hill-Wood family’s involvement continued for decades, with Samuel’s son and grandson playing key roles in the club’s success.

Peter Hill-Wood was the last of the family to lead Arsenal before selling shares to Kroenke. The Bracewell-Smith family also played a major part in Arsenal’s history.

They brought wealth and business sense to the club, helping it recover after World War II. His descendants eventually sold their shares, ending the family’s long association with Arsenal.

In the modern era, figures like David Dein and Danny Fiszman were instrumental. Dein’s efforts to bring in Arsène Wenger and his skill for securing player deals led to some of Arsenal’s most successful years.

Meanwhile, Fiszman was key in the club’s move to the Emirates Stadium, though this move also brought financial challenges.

READ ALSO: Who Owns Liverpool FC

How Much Is Arsenal’s Owner Worth?

Stan Kroenke, the owner of Arsenal Football Club, is one of the wealthiest sports team owners in the world. As of October 2024, his net worth is estimated to be around $20.7 billion.

This places him among the richest individuals globally, with his fortune coming mainly from his investments in sports and real estate.

Kroenke’s wealth has grown significantly over the years through his company, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), which owns multiple successful sports teams.

His sports empire includes some of the biggest names in professional leagues. He owns the Los Angeles Rams, a team that won the Super Bowl in 2021.

He also owns the Denver Nuggets, who became NBA champions in 2023, and the Colorado Avalanche, who won the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Aside from these teams, Kroenke has invested in other sports ventures, including lacrosse and esports. Kroenke began his business journey in real estate, founding the Kroenke Group in 1983.

His company built shopping centers, many of which were located near Walmart stores. This connection came through his marriage to Ann Walton, a heiress of the Walmart fortune.