NFL Investors Swoop For Leeds United

Leeds United Chairman Andrea Radrizzani has agreed to sell his stake of Leeds United to co-owners 49ers Enterprises.

The value of the deal is reportedly £170m and sees 49ers Enterprises take full ownership of the club, that now play in the EFL championship after suffering relegation from the Premier League last month.

The investment arm of the NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers had purchased a 15% stake in the Yorkshire club in 2018 and increased that to 44% in 2021.

In 2017, when Leeds was in the Championship, Radrizziani purchased the club for £45m, but since then his stake has dropped to 56%.

The previous agreement was reportedly worth approximately £400m, however, that was dependant on the club’s Premier League status. Negotiations were then restarted after Leeds’ league status was confirmed.

A club statement from Leeds United, said, ‘Leeds United can confirm an agreement has been reached between Aser Ventures and 49ers Enterprises for the purchase of the club.

‘Both parties continue to work through the details, and further updates will be provided soon. All of our focus remains on a quick return to the Premier League.’

At the start of Radrizzani’s reign he was popular amongst the Leeds supporters as he was responsible for bringing in manager Marcelo Bielsa who took the club back to the Premier League. However, after sacking the Argentine, the chairman quickly lost his popularity with fans chanting for him to leave during the final game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur.

A Leeds United supporters club statement said Radrizzani was ‘no longer an appropriate person to own Leeds United’, calling his behaviour ‘appalling’.

The former chairman Radrizzani has recently purchased a stake in recently relegated Italian club Sampdoria.