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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Matt Hughes

EFL examines Sheffield United over claim owners trying to avoid paying full purchase price

A general view of Bramall Lane
Sheffield United’s new parent company, 1919 Partners LLC, has said: ‘We are focused on winning football matches, not playing politics.’ Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/REX/Shutterstock

The English Football League is investigating allegations that Sheffield United’s owner, the American investment group COH Sports, has formed a new parent company for the club to avoid paying £35m owed to the previous owner, Prince Abdullah.

COH Sports, led by Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, agreed a deal to buy United from the Saudi Arabian for about £100m in December 2024 and paid the first instalment of about £30m shortly after, but is alleged to have been late in paying the second instalment and missed two subsequent payments due this year. Abdullah’s investment vehicle, United World, issued a winding-up petition in the high court against COH Sports this week and has taken its concerns to the EFL and the Independent Football Regulator.

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