Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
Sport
Simon Meechan

Newcastle United's owners - shareholder breakdown of Saudi-led ownership

Newcastle United was taken over by an investment group led by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) in October 2021.

The £305m deal to buy the club from Sports Direct chief Mike Ashley was a protracted and long-running saga which the Premier League took 18 months to approve.

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud is PIF's chairman. The Newcastle United takeover led to allegations of ' sportswashing ' from campaigners who have concerns about human rights in Saudi Arabia.

Read more: One year on from the Newcastle United takeover

PIF, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, is not the only Newcastle United owner. PIF own the largest stake - 80% - of the club. The remaining 20% is split between PCP Capital Partners, a private equity firm led by Amanda Staveley and RB Sports and Media, the sporting arm of the Reuben Brothers private investment firm.

Who owns Newcastle United?

Newcastle United was bought by an investment group led by PIF in October 2021.

The group - which combined owns 100% of the club - comprises of three partners. PIF, the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Saudi Arabia; PCP Capital Partners; and RB Sports and Media.

PIF, whose chairman is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud , own 80% of Newcastle Unite d, according to Bloomberg, whose report cites insiders with knowledge of the deal. Businessman Yasir Al-Rumayyan is PIF's governor and Non-Executive Chairman of Newcastle United. Mr Al-Rumayyan is also the chairman of Aramco, the Saudi state-owned oil company.

PIF uses surplus Saudi money - often oil revenue - to make investments around the world. The idea is ultimately to have a variety of revenue streams so Saudi Arabia is less reliant on oil money in the future. PIF argues it is a separate entity from the Saudi state, a distinction the Premier League ultimately accepted.

PIF's website states: "PIF is required to invest and reinvest available funds in order to achieve its objectives for the benefit of the public welfare, support economic development, and diversify sources of income for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

PIF's other investments include stakes in Facebook, Disney, BP, and Boeing.

PCP, owned and led by CEO Amanda Staveley, has a 10% stake with Ms Staveley sitting on the Newcastle United board. Speaking upon completion of the takeover, Ms Staveley said: "This is a long-term investment. We are excited about the future prospects for Newcastle United.

"We intend to instill a united philosophy across the club, establish a clear purpose, and help provide leadership that will allow Newcastle United to go on to big achievements over the long term.

"Our ambition is aligned with the fans – to create a consistently successful team that’s regularly competing for major trophies and generates pride across the globe."

The final 10% is held by RB Sports and Media , the sporting arm of Simon Reuben and David Reuben's Reuben Brothers investment firm. They are represented at Newcastle by Jamie Reuben, son of property developer David. Jamie Reuben is a director at Newcastle United.

Read next:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.