The fact that Newcastle United is currently regarded as the richest club in international football is a reflection of the vast coffers of the club’s ownership group, which theoretically has the money to outspend rivals.
In the January 2022 transfer window, it exercised that financial strength, paying more than any other team in Europe to make sure the Magpies comfortably dodged the prospect of relegation. The squad benefited from their player purchases, finishing the 2021/22 season in the 11th spot in the Premier League.
Under Howe, Newcastle has grown significantly in 2022–23 and is on track to contend for Champions League football as they now sit third in the table. Also, they have advanced to the Carabao Cup final.
Under former owner Mike Ashley, resources had not been quite as bountiful in recent seasons, but the situation swiftly changed in October 2021 when a consortium took possession with the promise of turning the club’s fortunes around and making it one of the major players in English and European football.
Nonetheless, there was some controversy surrounding the takeover by PCP Capital Partners, RB Sports & Media (owned by the Reuben brothers), and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. The agreement, which featured a geopolitical dispute, difficult human rights problems, and even brought the British Prime Minister into the discussion, actually took more than a year to accomplish.
Despite objections from human rights organisations who argued the Newcastle takeover was the latest high-profile instance of sport-washing, the Premier League ultimately approved the transaction. Saudi Arabia had to agree to crack down on piracy in order to clear the final obstacle, which threatened Premier League rightsholder and broadcast partner beIN Sports of Qatar. After that disagreement was resolved, Newcastle could transfer ownership, and Magpie supporters were excited about the possibilities.
Newcastle's new owners net worth vs. Man City's owners net worth 🤑 pic.twitter.com/q0ghdOljQG
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 7, 2021
Newcastle United Owners
With 80% of the shares, PIF became the club’s largest shareholder and de facto owner.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the chairman of Newcastle United and the governor of PIF, has served as the organization’s public face. Moreover, he serves as chairman of Saudi Aramco, one of the biggest oil and gas businesses in the world.
10% of the shares were given to PCP Capital Partners. Amanda Staveley, who assisted in Sheikh Mansour’s acquisition of Manchester City in 2008, is the owner of the company. Together with Al-Rumayyan, Staveley has frequently served as the deal’s public face.
Wealthy British businessmen the Reuben brothers received the remaining 10% of the shares.
READ ALSO: Newcastle outdone by controversial VAR goal as Manchester United lift 2023 Carabao Cup
“We are extremely proud to become the new owners of Newcastle United, one of the most famous clubs in English football,” said Yasir Al Rumayyan, head of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. @Laura_Wright96 reports on this dealhttps://t.co/iwVPJ0ffNN pic.twitter.com/DXvvNfZBzu
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) October 8, 2021
Newcastle United Net Worth
The group reportedly paid Mike Ashley $415 million in total for the club.
As previously stated, the transaction initially surfaced in April 2020 when the partners filed the necessary papers to acquire Newcastle. The lengthy nature of the agreement hampered the process, and in September 2020 it appeared to have failed. Nevertheless, the Premier League denied Newcastle United’s assertion that the league had officially rejected the consortium in a statement.
On October 7, 2021, it was revealed that the acquisition had been completed, with many citing the resolution of the beIN Sports piracy dispute as the key to the deal’s success.
The $270 million that British businessman Farhad Moshiri, who is of Iranian descent, paid for Everton in 2016 and the $136 million that Serbian billionaire Dragan Solak and investment firm Sport Republic paid for an 80 per cent controlling interest in Southampton are both in comparison to the $415 million price tag.
Players transfer under Newcastle’s new owners
Fans frequently lamented a lack of investment and a sense that the ownership had no direction under Mike Ashley’s reign. The club made several moves in the pricey January 2022 transfer market, which was something the new decision-makers have promised will change, and their early movements in the market seemed to support it.
| Player | Previous Club | Transfer fee |
| Bruno Guimaraes | Lyon | $43.4 million |
| Chris Wood | Burnley | $32.6 million |
| Dan Burn | Brighton | $17 million |
| Kieran Trippier | Atletico Madrid | $15.6 million |
In February 2022, the team hired Dan Ashworth to serve as Technical Director of Football. After serving as Brighton’s technical director previously and the FA’s director of elite development before that, Ashworth is well-known in the sport.
Although the club splashed the cash in January, the hiring of Ashworth is an encouraging indicator that the club will look to do more than just hire big stars on large salaries and hope they get along. He is regarded as someone with a long-term perspective.
Newcastle continued to spend lavishly in the summer of 2022, paying £33 million to Lille for center-back Sven Botman and $15.7 million for Aston Villa’s Matt Targett. Moreover, Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope was acquired for £10.35 million.
Their spending continued in the January 2023 winter transfer window with the £45 million acquisition of Anthony Gordon from Everton. Also, they acquired Harrison Ashby from West Ham for £3 million and Garang Kuol from Central Coast Mariners for £300,000.
A new training facility that might feature a second stadium with a smaller capacity for the women’s team and academy teams has also been brought up for discussion. Sites are reportedly already the subject of club leadership investigation.
The status of these projects has not been officially confirmed by the club, despite the fact that these and other community initiatives have been proposed.
