Football
Most expensive club takeovers: America taking over football
In this blog we take a look at some of the most expensive football club acquisitions in history. As prices continue to rise, European football appears to be of increasing interest from across the Atlantic with investors from the USA becoming ever present in Europe.
We take a look at the most expensive takeovers below.
5. Valencia – £345 million
The only non-American buyer on this list comes in the form of Singaporean businessman and investor, Peter Lim. Lim officially purchased Valencia in August 2014 with Lim’s first season as owner seeing Valencia qualify for the Champions League in fourth place with 77 points.
The good times did not continue for long in Valencia, who now find themself in a relegation fight in La Liga after years of paying off debts, selling key players, and failing to make the right signings.
Valencia fans have been protesting against Lim’s ownership for a number of years, and if Lim were to sell up, it is unlikely that he would go on to make profit on this investment.
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4. Arsenal – £600 million
The first of the American investors, billionaire Stan Kroenke took full ownership of Arsenal in August 2018 with a bid worth around £600 million. Kroenke’s £600 million takeover valued the club at £1.8 billion overall.
Kroenke has proven himself in ownership in his home country with the numerous teams that he owns, winning two Super Bowls, two Stanley Cups and one MLS Cup. Success has not been at the forefront of Kroenke’s ownership of Arsenal with multiple protests against his ownership.
However, for the first time since Kroenke’s ownership Arsenal have made the Champions League this season, and they aren’t out of the picture for the Premier League title too.
3. Manchester United – £800 million
In the oldest takeover on our list, the Glazers purchased Manchester United for around £800 million in 2005. As of 2023 they still have ultimate control over the club with protests against their ownership become increasingly regular at Old Trafford.
The Glazers are not well liked by the fans and there is good reason as to why. Almost instantly the Glazers put all their debts into the club, amassing around £540 million, and to this day the club has paid over £1 billion in debt interest and other fees.
However, Manchester United have seen great success since the takeover, winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League.
2. AC Milan – £1.07 billion
The first billion-dollar deal takes our number two spot with the American investment firm, RedBird Capital Partners, purchasing AC Milan for just over £1 billion in 2022, making it the largest purchase of a football club outside of England.
The American investment group purchased the club just five years after it had been taken over by Chinese businessman Li Yonghong for £600 million. Having failed to keep up with repayments, Li’s ownership was falling out of favour and the takeover by RedBird Capital Partners looks to spell another successful era for the Rossoneri.
They purchased the club off the back of their 2021-22 Serie A title success and the success has continued with Milan continuing to compete towards the top of the Serie A table as well as reaching the Champions League semi-final this season, potentially going further should they beat city rivals Inter.
1. Chelsea – £4.25 billion
With Roman Abramovic’s ownership of Chelsea going incredibly successfully, most recently winning the Champions League for a second time in 2021, no Chelsea fans were crying out for a changing of the guard. However, external factors took their toll and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine meant that the Russian oligarch was forced to sell up by the British Government.
In May 2022, Todd Boehly, along with Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter, and Hansjörg Wyss completed the purchase of Chelsea for £4.25 billion – a far cry from Ken Bates’ £1 purchase of the club 40 years earlier.
Boehly’s reign has not started well with Chelsea experiencing a form of midtable mediocrity in the American’s first season as owner. Boehly is not shy of putting his hand in his pocket, having spent over £500 million on transfers already. Although success under Boehly may not have been instant, there is lots to look forward to for Chelsea fans with consistent acquisition of stars as well as younger players with lots of potential.
