
<p>The number of soccer <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/list-of-american-owned-soccer-clubs-in-europe-20230927-WST-458682.html">teams owned by Americans</a> has skyrocketed. Many American investors own teams throughout Europe, from the minor leagues to the top leagues. In recent weeks, rumors have circulated that 777 Partners, a private equity group based in the United States, is <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/everton-close-to-sale-to-us-investment-group-20230912-WST-455552.html">actively pursuing a purchase of Everton</a>.</p>



<p>In fact, US owners’ influence over the Premier League is at an all-time high. Should the transaction be finalized, the United States will control 10 of the 20 Premier League clubs. Four of the league’s most successful clubs, including <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-united-tv-schedule/">Manchester United</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/liverpool-tv-schedule/">Liverpool</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a>, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a>, are among those mentioned.</p>



<h5>Boehly spent more than $1.2bn since taking over Chelsea</h5>



<p>Buying a team in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/watch-premier-league-on-us-tv-internet/">Premier League</a> is becoming a popular option. It comes as a result of the English top league’s increasing wealth thanks to TV agreements.</p>



<p>This factor is something that Chelsea owner <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/todd-boehly-looking-to-raise-500m-to-help-chelsea-recover-20230805-WST-448128.html">Todd Boehly</a> seems to enjoy. The 50-year-old has not been shy about spending lavishly on new players since taking over for Roman Abramovich.</p>



<p>Boehly has splashed almost $1.2 billion on new additions since the summer of 2022, blessing his three managers so far – Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Mauricio Pochettino – with their desired players.</p>



<p>Unfortunately, he has yet to see the team’s performance improve. Despite a poor start, they will be aiming for a better Premier League finish than the 12th-place finish from the previous season.</p>



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<h2>Forbes ranks wealthiest American owners</h2>



<p>While Todd Boehly is certainly one of the most generous American owners in Europe, it is interesting to note that he is not among the richest. As is customary every year, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinbirnbaum/2023/10/03/americas-richest-sports-team-owners-2023/?sh=74c8346d536b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forbes</a> compiled a list of the wealthiest sports franchise owners.</p>



<p>Italian newspaper <a href="https://www.calcioefinanza.it/2023/10/03/classifica-piu-ricchi-usa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Calcio e Finanza</a> has helped reduce the data down to soccer club owners. It includes Fiorentina president <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ny-cosmos-owner-rocco-commisso-profiled-on-60-minutes-20230320-WST-423824.html">Rocco Commisso</a> and former <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/ac-milan-tv-schedule">AC Milan</a> owner Paul Singer, while Boehly is lower on the list.</p>



<p>With an estimated fortune of $8 billion, Italian-American Commisso ranks 114th in Forbes’s overall list of the wealthiest Americans. Singer ranks No. 147 on the list with $6.1 billion, surpassing spendthrift Chelsea patron Boehly, who comes in at 176th with $6 billion. </p>



<p>Prior to the summer, Paul Singer and his company, Elliott Management, controlled the Rossoneri. Eventually, they sold the club to RedBird and Gerry Cardinale.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images</em></p>


Fiorentina owner wealthier than Chelsea's Boehly, Forbes reveal

The annual Forbes list of the wealthiest sports club owners has been compiled. It has also been set to include just soccer club owners.


<p>US billionaire Jahm Najafi is apparently ready to make a serious bid to buy <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/tottenham-tv-schedule/">Tottenham Hotspur</a>. According to sources with <em><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c3795725-eb77-4681-848d-20c37c990386?shareType=nongift" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Financial Times</a></em>, the Iranian-American businessman is preparing a massive $3.75 billion offer to purchase the club from current owners Joe Lewis and Daniel Levy.</p>



<p>Najafi is currently chairman of MSP Sports Capital. The American investment group already has ownership stake in Bundesliga outfit Augsburg, Portuguese club Estoril, Spanish side AD Alcorcon and Belgian team SK Beveren.</p>



<h2>Middle East to help fund deal with US billionaire and Tottenham</h2>



<p>MSP’s potential offer would value the north London club’s equity at $3 billion. The remaining $750,000 would then be added to the team’s debt. According to the report, Najafi’s MSP would essentially front 70% of the purchase price. Middle Eastern investors would then take on the remaining 30%. <em><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2022/05/26/the-worlds-most-valuable-soccer-teams-2022-real-madrid-worth-51-billion-back-on-top/?sh=4c740e06286b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forbes</a></em> previously valued Spurs at $2.35 billion back in May 2022.</p>



<p>Lewis and Levy, through the group English National Investment Company, initially purchased a minority stake in Spurs in the late 1990s. However, they quickly acquired a controlling majority in the club in 2001 when they bought out Lord Alan Sugar. The extra 26% of team shares cost the duo around $31 million.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: The Financial Times have reported that Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi is preparing to make a £3.1bn bid to buy Tottenham Hotspur. <a href="https://t.co/GUXKAd5aNf">pic.twitter.com/GUXKAd5aNf</a></p>— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1625805113926250496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>ENIC garnered praised for taking Spurs into the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ despite keeping spending relatively limited. Also, the group financed the state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Construction finished in 2019. Nevertheless, Spurs have managed just one significant trophy since Lewis and Levy completed the takeover.</p>



<h5>MSP previously linked with Everton</h5>



<p>Najafi’s group was <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-25/msp-is-said-to-mull-investment-in-premier-league-team-everton-fc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recently linked</a> with a deal for fellow <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> club Everton. Cameras <a href="https://www.liverpoolworld.uk/sport/football/everton/everton-takeover-news-as-msp-sports-capital-preparing-375bn-bid-4028044">spotted the American</a> at a Toffees game against Southampton last month. However, it seems as if Najafi and MSP have potentially shifted their focus to Spurs. If completed, Najafi would become the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/bournemouth-becomes-10th-us-owned-premier-league-club-20221213-WST-412193.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">11th American owner</a> in the Premier League.</p>



<p>The investment group will have just received a fairly significant boost in funds. Najafi holds a minority stake in National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns. The team sold in December for $4 billion, but Najafi retained his stake in the Suns.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PA Images</em></p>


US businessman and billionaire Jahm Najafi is reportedly set to make an offer to buy Tottenham Hotspur for almost $4 billion.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "US ownership"

Chelsea

Fiorentina owner wealthier than Chelsea's Boehly, Forbes reveal

Leagues: EPL

US billionaire wants to buy Tottenham Hotspur for $3.75 billion