Premier League owners: Who is in charge of your club?

Editor’s note: This piece was originally published in October 2021 and has been updated to reflect the ownership structures of the current 20 clubs in the Premier League.

After a Premier League vote that said more about owners and their competing interests than anything, there is a lot of focus on those at the top of English football’s elite clubs.

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Factor in new arrivals to the league at the start of the season and there is a new set of decision-makers to be aware of.

So, who owns your lot? See below for a breakdown of the ownership structure and board make-up of all 20 Premier League clubs…

Arsenal

Who owns what?

It’s a bit of a Russian doll. The Arsenal Football Club PLC is a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Arsenal Holdings Limited. Arsenal Holdings Limited is 100 per cent owned by KSE UK Inc. And KSE UK Inc is, as you most likely know, 100 per cent owned by US businessman Stan Kroenke.

Board members and their roles

Stan Kroenke — director

Josh Kroenke — director

Lord Harris of Peckham — director

Tim Lewis — non-executive director

Aston Villa

Who owns what?

Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens are the co-owners of Aston Villa, with chief executive Christian Purslow also owning a small slice.

Sawiris is the more hands-on of the two co-owners but Edens also heavily contributes towards the big decisions.

Purslow explained when Sawiris and Edens completed their takeover of Villa in July 2018, from then-owner Tony Xia, that he would only be a part of the club if he could own a percentage of it. The size of his share has never been revealed.

Board members and their roles

Nassef Sawiris — co-chairman

Wes Edens — co-chairman

Christian Purslow — chief executive officer

Bournemouth

Who owns what?

In December 2022, American businessman Bill Foley completed his takeover of the club from previous owner Maxim Demin.

Denim had been the club’s owner for 11 years.

Foley also owns NHL franchise the Vegas Golden Knights. The new owner has spoken about his ambitions for a multi-club model with Bournemouth as the flagship. The deal cost £100m (£120m if they avoid relegation) and the minority ownership group of the club is led by Hollywood actor Michael B Jordan.

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Board members and their roles:

Bill Foley – chairman

Neill Blake – chief executive

David Holiday — finance director

Rob Mitchell — commercial director

Brentford

Who owns what?

Matthew Benham became the owner of the then third-tier club in June 2012, when he bought the controlling 60 per cent stake from Bees United — the Brentford Supporters’ Trust. Benham’s involvement can be traced back to the 2000s as he supported the west London club through periods of financial difficulty.

Board members and their roles

Cliff Crown FCA — chairman

Jon Varney — chief executive officer

Phil Giles — co-director of football

Monique Choudhuri — director

Stewart Purvis — director

Nity Raj — director

Deji Davies — director

Preeti Shetty — director

Brighton

Who owns what?

Tony Bloom owns 94 per cent of the club. He has increased his shareholding from 75 per cent, converting interest-free loans, since taking over from Dick Knight 13 years ago.

The minority shareholders include former chairman Knight and board members such as Bloom’s uncle Ray.

Board members and their roles

Tony Bloom — chairman

Paul Barber — chief executive and deputy chairman

Peter Godfrey — vice-chairman/non-executive director

Paul Mullen —chief operating officer/non-executive director

Robert Comer — company secretary/non-executive director

Ray Bloom — non-executive director

Lee Cooper – finance director

Derek Chapman — non-executive director

Adam Franks — non-executive director

Marc Sugarman — non-executive director

Michelle Walder — non-executive director

Burnley

Who owns what?

ALK Capital took over Burnley at the end of December 2020 and acquired 83.97 per cent of the shares. These are broken down between the three main directors Alan Pace (50.382 per cent), Michael Smith and Stuart Hunt (both 16.794 per cent). The remaining 16.03 per cent of shares are owned by other individual shareholders. This includes approximately six per cent of shares which are fan-owned.

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Recently, ALK Capital has welcomed minority ownership from NFL legend JJ Watt and his wife, former NWSL player Kealia and YouTube group Dude Perfect, in a move aimed at helping to grow Burnley’s influence, particularly in the United States.

Board members and their roles

Alan Pace — chairman

Stuart Hunt — director/club president

Mike Smith — director/head of day-to-day football operations

Dave Checketts — director

Professor Antonio Davila — director

Chelsea

Who owns what?

It was all change at Chelsea last summer after Roman Abramovich’s 19-year spell in charge came to an end.

A consortium led by LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital completed a takeover of Chelsea and its related companies on May 31 after reaching an agreement to buy the club from Abramovich for £4.25billion ($5.10bn) on May 6.

Abramovich was unable to receive money from the sale owing to sanctions imposed on him by the UK government following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The oligarch was not on Chelsea’s board but the club’s directors followed him out of Stamford Bridge, with chairman Bruce Buck, chief executive Guy Laurence, directors Marina Granovskaia and Eugene Tenenbaum, and director of football operations David Barnard all leaving.

They were replaced by a new-look, nine-strong board, as discussed in greater detail here.

Since becoming Chelsea’s owner, Boehly and Clearlake have spent more than £600m on transfers and replaced Thomas Tuchel as head coach with Graham Potter.

Board members and their roles

Todd Boehly — chairman, co-controlling owner and interim sporting director

Behdad Eghbali – co-controlling owner

Jose E. Feliciano — co-controlling owner

Mark Walter — co-owner

Hansjorg Wyss — co-owner

Jonathan Goldstein — co-owner

Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE — director

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Barbara Charone — director

James Pade — director

Crystal Palace

Who owns what?

The major investors and shareholders are Steve Parish — one of the four local businessmen to have bought Crystal Palace out of administration back in 2010 — and Americans Josh Harris, David Blitzer and, as of summer 2021, John Textor.

Blitzer and Harris bought significant stakes in December 2015, with Textor investing £87million in August 2021.

The club’s ownership structure is such that there must be agreement between the four major shareholders for decisions to be made. Numerous other investors own smaller stakes, including Robert Franco and his South African company, Kloof Capital.

Board members and their roles

Steve Parish — chairman/director

David Blitzer — director

Josh Harris — director

John Textor — director

Everton

Who owns what?

Farhad Moshiri bought a 49.9 per cent share in February 2016 and gradually increased his stake — it now stands at 94 per cent — via Blue Heaven Holdings Limited.

The Anglo-Iranian businessman is, though, attempting to sell the club.

In September, he agreed to sell his shares to Miami-based 777 Partners. As things stand, 777, which also has involvement in European clubs Genoa, Sevilla, Hertha Berlin and Standard Liege and Brazil’s Vasco da Gama among others, are currently halfway through an approval process, with the Premier League, the Football Association and the Financial Conduct Authority scrutinising the deal. The group claims to manage $10billion worth of assets and have over 60 companies in insurance, reinsurance and aviation.

Josh Wander and Steve Pasko, 777’s co-founders, are expected to take places on the Everton board should approval be granted.

Board members and their roles

Everton have an interim board in place while they await the takeover.

They are currently without a chairman after the passing of Bill Kenwright in October, while former chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, finance director Grant Ingles and club legend Graeme Sharp left their board positions in June.

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Stadium officer Colin Chong is the temporary CEO, while Moshiri has also taken on a temporary role. Other members of the interim executive team include finance director James Maryniak and businessman and accountant John Spellman.

Fulham

Who owns what?

Fulham are owned by American businessman Shahid Khan, who bought the club from Mohamed Al Fayed in 2013.

Fulham Football Club is a subsidiary of Fulham Football Leisure Limited, whose immediate parent company is Cougar Holdco London. This is a subsidiary of K2TR Family Holdings 2 Corporation, registered in the United States. The ultimate controlling party is Shahid Khan.

Khan, 72, made his money in auto parts. He also owns the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as All Elite Wrestling — a professional wrestling entertainment company — with his son Tony.

Since his takeover, Khan senior has committed more than £440million into the club.

Board members and their roles

Shahid Khan— chairman

Tony Khan — vice chairman, director of football operations, general manager and sporting director

Alistair Mackintosh— chief executive

Mark Lamping — non-executive director

David Daly — non-executive director

Liverpool

Who owns what?

Liverpool are majority owned by American company Fenway Sports Group, commonly referred to as FSG, and have been since its October 2010 takeover. John Henry is their principal owner.

FSG, which also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, is made up of a group of investors including NBA basketball star LeBron James, though the only members to have more than a 10 per cent stake in Liverpool are Henry, Tom Werner, Mike Gordon and RedBird Capital Partners, a U.S. private investment firm.

Liverpool insist no single person with shares in RedBird holds, either directly or indirectly, a significant interest in the club. RedBird bought around a 10 per cent stake in FSG for $735m (£533m) in March 2023. That investment was based on a valuation for FSG of $7.35bn. FSG also sold a minority stake in the club to U.S. private equity firm Dynasty Equity for between $100million and $200m in late September.

Board members and their roles

John Henry — principal owner

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Tom Werner — chairman

Billy Hogan — chief executive

Andy Hughes — managing director

Mike Gordon — director

Mike Egan — director

Sir Kenny Dalglish — non-executive director

Luton Town

Who owns what?

According to Luton’s website, 2020 Holdings (Eng) Ltd owns 100 per cent of the club.

Paul Ballantyne, one of their current directors, holds a significant interest in 2020 Holdings.

Board members and their roles

David Wilkinson — chairman

Gary Sweet — chief executive officer

Paul Ballantyne, Stephen Browne, Bob Curson, Mike Herrick, Rob Stringer — directors

Kailesh Karavadra, Luton Town supporters’ trust — shareholders

Richard Banks, Gary Chamberlain, Doug Knight, Ian Gazeley, Emma Banks, Ben Banks — vice-presidents

John Buttle — honorary vice-president

Manchester City

Who owns what?

The holding company of the club is Manchester City Limited, which in turn falls under the umbrella of City Football Group Limited (CFG).

CFG is 77 per cent owned by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment and Development Ltd, of which Sheikh Mansour Al-Nahyan is the sole owner. He is the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family.

American company Silver Lake (10 per cent) and a consortium of Chinese firms CMG Holdings and CITIC Capital (13 per cent) own the rest of CFG.

Board members and their roles

Khaldoon al-Mubarak — chairman

Martin Edelman — director

Simon Pearce— director

John MacBeath — director

Alberto Galassi — director

Abdulla Khouri — director

Manchester United

Who owns what?

The U.S.-based Glazer family completed a full leveraged takeover of Manchester United in May 2005.

Having owned 100 per cent of the club, their shareholding has decreased since United were listed on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2012. But, despite brothers Kevin and Edward Glazer selling 9.5million shares for £137million in October, the Glazers’ overall stake still stands at 69 per cent.

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Shares in the club are divided into Class A and Class B. The Glazers own all the Class B shares, which carry 10 times the voting rights of Class A ones.

The INEOS group, which is owned by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is set to buy 25 per cent of the club.

Board members and their roles:

Avram Glazer — executive co-chairman and director

Joel Glazer — executive co-chairman and director

Richard Arnold — chief executive officer (will depart at the end of 2023)

Patrick Stewart — interim chief executive

Cliff Baty — chief financial officer

Kevin Glazer — director

Bryan Glazer — director

Darcie Glazer Kassewitz — director

Edward Glazer — director

Robert Leitao — independent director

Manu Sawhney — independent director

John Hooks — independent director

Newcastle United

Who owns what?

The name of the companies that own the club are Newcastle United Limited and Newcastle United Football Club Limited, 100 per cent of the shares in which were bought by the “Investment Group” (PZ Newco Limited), which comprises three parts:

Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, aka PIF (NCUK Investment Limited) — 80 per cent

PCP Capital Partners (Cantervale Limited and JV1 Limited) — 10 per cent

The Reuben brothers (RB Sports & Media Limited and JV1 Limited) — 10 per cent

PIF has the controlling, decisive stake, although PCP has the management contract to run the club day to day. Major decisions need input from all three, with PIF having the ultimate voice.

Board members and their roles

Yasir Al-Rumayyan (governor of PIF) — non-executive chairman

Amanda Staveley (chief executive of PCP) — board member

Jamie Reuben (RB Sports & Media) — board member

Nottingham Forest

Who owns what?

Evangelos Marinakis, the Greek shipping and media magnate, is the majority owner of Nottingham Forest, having taken what was understood to be an 80 per cent stake in the club when it was purchased from Fawaz Al Hasawi in May 2017.

The other 20 per cent stake went to Sokratis Kominakis, who has a background in telecommunications.

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It has always been Marinakis — along, more recently, with his son Miltiadis — who has been the club’s figurehead.

Dane Murphy stepped down as chief executive officer in January 2023.

Board members and their roles

Evangelos Marinakis — owner

Sokratis Kominakis — owner

Nicholas Randall QC — chairman

Ioannis Vrentzos — director

Kyriakos Dourekas — director of football

Jonny Owen — director

Sheffield United

Who owns what?

Prince Abdullah Bin Mossad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud owns a 97.25 per cent shareholding in United World Holdings Limited, a company registered in the tax haven of Guernsey which is the parent company of Sheffield United Football Club Limited.

The club are up for sale following their promotion back to the Premier League in spring 2023.

Board members and their roles

Yusuf Giansiracusa — chairman

Princess Reem Bint, Abdullah Al Saud and Abdullah Alghamdi — directors

Stephen Bettis — chief executive

Tottenham Hotspur

Who owns what?

Of the total issued ordinary share capital of Tottenham Hotspur Limited, ENIC SPORTS INC. (ENIC) owns 86.58 per cent.

According to Spurs’ official website, chairman Daniel Levy “and certain members of his family are potential beneficiaries of discretionary trusts which ultimately own 29.88 per cent of the share capital of ENIC. A discretionary trust of which certain members of Joe Lewis’ family are potential beneficiaries ultimately owns 70.12 per cent of the share capital of ENIC.”

In October 2022, Lewis was removed as a “person of significant control” of Tottenham Hotspur, according to Companies House, the UK’s registrar of companies.

On the day of Lewis’ arrest for alleged insider trading in July 2023, a Tottenham spokesman said: “The owner of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club is ENIC, with majority control held by a family discretionary trust of which Mr Joseph Lewis is not a beneficiary. The trust is managed by two independent professional trustees on behalf of its beneficiaries. Mr Lewis ceased to be a person with significant control of the club in October 2022.” Lewis denies any wrong-doing.

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Aside from ENIC, the other 13.42 per cent of the club is owned by private shareholders, largely thought to be fans who purchased shares when they were available through a previous flotation on the London Stock Exchange.

Board members and their roles

Daniel Levy — chairman

Matthew Collecott — operations and finance director

Donna-Maria Cullen — executive director

Todd Kline — chief commercial officer

Rebecca Caplehorn — director of football administration and governance

Jonathan Turner — non-executive director

Chief football officer Scott Munn, who officially started work at Spurs in September, will also join the board assuming he passes a customary probationary period.

West Ham United

Who owns what?

David Sullivan and David Gold completed a takeover of West Ham United in January 2010. In November Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky purchased a 27 per cent stake.

Gold died at the start of January at the age of 88 following a short illness.

The breakdown of the ownership is as follows: Sullivan: 38.8 per cent, Kretinsky: 27 per cent, Gold family: 25.1 per cent, WHU LLC: 8 per cent, other investors 1.1 per cent (American billionaire J Albert ‘Tripp’ Smith is the ultimate owner of WHU LLC).

Board members and their roles

David Sullivan — chairman

Daniel Kretinsky — director

Pavel Horsky — director

Karren Brady — vice-chair

Andy Mollett — chief financial officer

J Albert Smith — non-executive director

Daniel Harris — non-executive director

Tara Warren — executive director

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Who owns what?

Wolves are 100 per cent owned by Fosun International, a Chinese conglomerate led by its chairman and co-founder Guo Guangchang.

As the club website states: “The major ultimate shareholders of (Wolves) are chairman of Fosun Group, Guo Guangchang, CEO of Fosun Group Wang Qunbin and Liang Xinjun, who between them indirectly own the majority shareholding in the club.”

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Board members and their roles

Jeff Shi — executive chairman

John Gough — director

John Bowater — director

(Top photo: Getty Images)

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