Ex-Newcastle owner Amanda Staveley plots bid for 25.1 per cent stake in EFL club

Amanda Staveley is reportedly in talks to buy a stake in West Ham United.

The former Newcastle United director is looking to purchase a 25.1 per cent share in the Championship club.

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Staveley helped oversee the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s takeover of Newcastle in 2021.

She remained at the club as a director, having owned a 10 per cent share alongside her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi.

As well as her involvement at Newcastle, the 53-year-old is also a director of PCP Capital Partners and acted for Sheikh Mansour when he bought Manchester City in 2008.

The pair left St. James’ Park in July 2024, though, but Staveley could now be set to return to English football.

Staveley’s West Ham talks

According to Sky News, she is interested in buying shares in the Hammers.

The 25.1 per cent stake she could purchase includes shares owned by the Gold family.

Although talks are ongoing, any potential deal is said to be complicated by pre-emption rights.

West Ham’s existing investors have first refusal before any shares change hands.

Vanessa Gold, the daughter of former Hammers chairman David, currently owns a nine per cent share in the club.

She is also the current chairwoman, having inherited her father’s shares following his death in 2023.

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Czech billionaire businessman Daniel Kretinsky bought 16 per cent of the shares in the club from Gold in June.

The deal took Kretinsky’s share of the Hammers to 43 per cent, making him the club’s largest shareholder.

Gold’s father first bought a 50 per cent share alongside David Sullivan in 2010.

Sullivan, who still owns around a 38.8 per cent stake, stepped down as chairman last month.

New season looms

West Ham are currently preparing for their first season outside the Premier League since the 2011/12 campaign.

Their relegation in May ended the club’s 14-year stay in the division.

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Meanwhile, the upcoming season will be only their second outside the top-flight in the laat 21 years.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side face Portsmouth in the Carabao Cup first round on August 8 before beginning their league campaign away to Burnley eight days later.