Gfh Capital Limited Buy Leeds United

Championship team Leeds United have been taken over by a Middle East-based private equity group, GFH Capital Limited. The firm is now in a one month transitional period and will become 100% shareholder once the takeover has been approved by the Football League which is expected to be a formality. 

The deal, the financial details of which were not released, ends months of uncertainty for the club having announced in May that investment talks had begun. Ken Bates, the current owner, will continue in his position as chairman until the end of the season when he will become president. 

Bates said of the deal: ‘One thing I can say that has benefited from the negotiations is that this six-month courtship has given GFH Capital the opportunity to see the strengths and weaknesses and what needs to be supported.’

Managing director of GFH Capital, Hisham Alrayes, commented: ‘We are delighted to be able to announce the signing of this historic deal with one of the best supported football clubs in England. This is a fantastic opportunity to put an amazing club back where it belongs as well as to help bridge national and international borders with football.’