Exclusive: Tottenham owners open to interesting takeover deal
Tottenham’s owners would be more open to a sale that would see the owner of an NFL franchise invest in the club after turning down another takeover approach, sources have told Football Insider.
There has been plenty of takeover speculation surrounding Tottenham in recent weeks following the departure of former executive chairman Daniel Levy.
The Sun reported on Thursday (25 September) a US consortium led by tech entrepreneur Brooklyn Earick has launched a world record £4.5billion bid to buy Tottenham, with the proposal including £3.3bn to purchase the club and £1.2bn to be set aside for Thomas Frank‘s player budget.
Tottenham have now responded to the approach after releasing a new statement on Friday (26 September), insisting they have “unequivocally rejected” an informal expression of interest from a consortium led by Earick.
However, sources say Spurs’ majority owners ENIC would be more open to a deal with an NFL franchise owner that would see the club become part of a bigger combination of sporting assets rather than an outright sale.
How much of Tottenham does ENIC own?
ENIC was one of the first Premier League owners to explore the multi-club ownership model more than two decades ago, but Tottenham are now its sole interest within the sport.
ENIC owns an 86.91 per cent stake in Spurs, while Levy and members of his family hold a 29.88 per cent share in the British investment company, and Joe Lewis’s family trust own the remaining 70.12 per cent.
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The latest statement of commitment to Tottenham from the ownership group comes just weeks after a similar message was sent to interested parties following Levy’s exit.
Football Insider revealed on 5 September Amanda Staveley has been in talks about a Tottenham takeover alongside another US-based consortium.
However, Staveley’s company PCP International Finance released a statement on 8 August confirming it “does not intend to make an offer for Tottenham”.
Meanwhile, public filings earlier this week revealed Andrew Ashcroft has now invested in Tottenham.
Andrew, who is the son of former Conservative Party deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, has purchased a 3.4 per cent stake in the north London giants.
Why do investors want to buy Tottenham?
Spurs’ existing contract with the NFL is understood to be an important element for potential investors, with a minimum of two games played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium each year.
The first NFL game was held at the 62,850-capacity facility when the Chicago Bears took on the Oakland Raiders in October 2019 – just months after it opened.
Meanwhile, high-profile concerts have also been held at the stadium in recent years, providing the club’s coffers with a significant boost.
Tottenham are in a strong position financially after posting a turnover of £528million in their latest published accounts for 2023-24, with their commercial revenue standing at £255m.