San Francisco 49ers’ $5.1 Billion Worth Owners Set to Takeover $800 Million Worth Soccer Club at the End of 2022/23 Season

Fans and those around the English soccer pyramid are showing concerns over growing foreign investments in the Premier League clubs, especially from the US. Now reports are emerging that 49ers Enterprises Investment Group is set to take complete control of one of the Premier League clubs. The US investment group that owns the NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers owns 44% stakes in Leeds United FC.

They had a deal in place for a complete takeover of the club by 2024. However, now they can exercise the option as early as the end of the current season and negotiations over price can start after the fate of Leeds United is sealed in the Premier League.

The owners of the San Francisco 49ers are set to take complete control of Leeds United

Andrea Radrizzani, the Italian entrepreneur, bought 50% stakes in January 2017 in Leeds United. He took complete control in May 2017 after purchasing the remaining 50%. However, the 49ers entered the club ownership by purchasing 15% stakes in 2018 for $13.3 million. Currently, the 49ers own 44% of stakes in LUFC.

As per reports, the 49ers have a deal in place with Radrizzani for a complete takeover of the club by 2024. Reports suggest the deal be around $531 million, which could rise to $631 million. Meanwhile, the 49ers can move for the complete takeover by the end of the current season itself.

The negotiations will start once the fate of Leeds United in the Premier League is known after the season ends. If LUFC can stay in the Premier League, currently, two points above the relegation zone could affect the price. 

If the deal goes through, the LUFC will be the seventh club in the Premier Club to have 100% control by the American owner. However, now new reports are emerging with an unnamed party from middle-east showing an interest in the 56% stakes of Radrizzani. It will be interesting to see how things pan out in the coming days with the deal between the 49ers and Radrizzani already in place. 

A look at American ownership in the Premier League

Out of 20 Premier League clubs, eleven are completely or partly owned by the Americans. The clubs with 100% ownership by the US investors include:

Arsenal: owned by Stan Kroenke (KSE)

Bournemouth AFC: owned by Bill Foley (Black Knight)

Chelsea FC: owned by Todd Boehly (Clearlake Capital)

Fulham: owned by Shahid Khan (Cougar Holdco)

Liverpool: owned by Fenway Sports Group

Manchester United: owned by the Glazer family

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The remaining five clubs with American ownership include:

Aston Villa: Wes Edens (50%)

Crystal Palace: Palace Holdco (41%), John Textor (40%)

Leeds United: 49ers Enterprises (44%)

Manchester City: Silver Lake (18%)

West Ham United: WHU LLC (8%)

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How do you look at growing investments from the US into the Premier League? Let us know in the comments.