Staveley’s Offer for West Ham Stake Tees Up Kretinsky Clash

Published 1 August 2026 · finance

(Bloomberg) -- Amanda Staveley, the former part owner of Newcastle United, has agreed to take a 25% stake in West Ham United, setting up a

(Bloomberg) -- Amanda Staveley, the former part owner of Newcastle United, has agreed to take a 25% stake in West Ham United, setting up a potential tussle with Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky over the London football club’s ownership. Staveley, in partnership with Chicago-based investment group Ashland Forest Capital Partners, agreed to buy a 25% shareholding in the recently relegated team from Vanessa Gold. She is offering £150 million ($202 million) for the shares, a person familiar with the matter said, in a move that could lead to her eventually becoming the largest shareholder. Bloomberg previously reported that Kretinsky was negotiating to buy part of Gold’s stake to make himself the largest investor in the club. On Saturday, a spokesperson for Kretinsky warned the move by Staveley threatened to destabilize the club. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What stake is Amanda Staveley acquiring in West Ham United? ⌵ Amanda Staveley is acquiring a 25% stake in West Ham United for £150 million ($202 million) from Vanessa Gold. 2 Why is Staveley's acquisition seen as a potential conflict with Daniel Kretinsky? ⌵ Staveley's acquisition could conflict with Daniel Kretinsky, as he was negotiating to buy part of the Gold family's stake to become the largest investor in West Ham.

3 How does the pre-emption rights process impact Staveley's deal? ⌵ The pre-emption rights process gives existing investors, like Kretinsky, the first refusal to buy the shares at a set price, potentially altering the ownership structure. 4 Should West Ham fans be concerned about the ownership changes? ⌵ Yes, there could be concerns among West Ham fans about stability and the club’s future direction amidst ongoing negotiations and ownership disputes. 5 What implications does Staveley’s agreement have for West Ham's immediate management? ⌵ West Ham stated that the current ownership structure and day-to-day management will not change until the pre-emption process is completed, which is expected to take about two months. “The agreement we had reached with the Gold family in June provided stability for the club at a crucial time. Today’s announcement does the opposite,” they said. “We will always act in the best interests of West Ham United and are reviewing all of our options, including exercising our pre-emption rights in full.” The pre-emption setup means existing investors would get first refusal on any shares that change hands at a set price. “This process will take approximately two months and, until it is completed, nothing will change regarding the ownership structure of the Club,” West Ham said in a statement Saturday.