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- Investment arm of San Francisco 49ers bought initial 15% stake in 2018
- 49ers execs to have greater say in decision-making process and day-to-day operations
- Previous reports suggested any deal would value club at around US$326m
49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of the National Football League’s (NFL) San Francisco 49ers, has increased its ownership stake in Premier League soccer club Leeds United to 37 per cent.
The deal sees 49ers Enterprises acquire a further 22 per cent share of the Yorkshire side from Aser Ventures, the holding company owned and chaired by Leeds United chairman Andrea Radrizzani.
49ers Enterprises first invested in Leeds though a strategic partnership announced in 2018, when the company acquired a 15 per cent equity stake for a reported UK£10 million (US$13.6 million).
Following the latest deal, financial terms of which were not disclosed, the entity’s president Paraag Marathe becomes vice chairman of the club, having served on its board since the initial investment.
A joint statement said the move means Marathe, 49ers Enterprises vice president Collin Meador and other key 49ers personnel will be more involved in the decision-making process and day-to-day operations of the club.
Radrizzani, who will remain the controlling owner of Leeds through Aser, said: “I have always been open to bringing partners on this journey with me, as long as these actions can benefit the long-term strategy of the club.”
Reports that 49ers Enterprises has been looking to increase its stake in Leeds have circulated for some time. Last month, The Daily Mail reported that negotiations were at an advanced stage and any deal would value the club at around UK£240 million (US$326 million).
Leeds earned promotion back to England’s top-flight Premier League in 2020 after a 16-year absence. Since 2018, they have posted record-breaking commercial revenues thanks to a club-record kit supply arrangement with Adidas and a shirt sponsorship deal with betting firm SBOTOP.
In an interview with SportsPro last year, Radrizzani spoke of his intention to create a multinational club network that would help develop players that could one day represent Leeds in the Premier League.
“Our 49ers Enterprises team has always shared Andrea’s vision for constructing a powerful and winning club in the most competitive football league in the world, and the experience of the last three seasons has been more exhilarating than we could have ever imagined,” added Marathe.
“The hard work and bold leadership demonstrated by Andrea and his talented team has restored Leeds United’s rightful place in the Premier League and we look forward to playing an even bigger role in supporting their efforts to climb the table this year and into the future.”
49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of the National Football League’s (NFL) San Francisco 49ers, has increased its ownership stake in Premier League soccer club Leeds United to 37 per cent.
The deal sees 49ers Enterprises acquire a further 22 per cent share of the Yorkshire side from Aser Ventures, the holding company owned and chaired by Leeds United chairman Andrea Radrizzani.
49ers Enterprises first invested in Leeds though a strategic partnership announced in 2018, when the company acquired a 15 per cent equity stake for a reported UK£10 million (US$13.6 million).
Following the latest deal, financial terms of which were not disclosed, the entity’s president Paraag Marathe becomes vice chairman of the club, having served on its board since the initial investment.
A joint statement said the move means Marathe, 49ers Enterprises vice president Collin Meador and other key 49ers personnel will be more involved in the decision-making process and day-to-day operations of the club.
Radrizzani, who will remain the controlling owner of Leeds through Aser, said: “I have always been open to bringing partners on this journey with me, as long as these actions can benefit the long-term strategy of the club.”
Reports that 49ers Enterprises has been looking to increase its stake in Leeds have circulated for some time. Last month, The Daily Mail reported that negotiations were at an advanced stage and any deal would value the club at around UK£240 million (US$326 million).
Leeds earned promotion back to England’s top-flight Premier League in 2020 after a 16-year absence. Since 2018, they have posted record-breaking commercial revenues thanks to a club-record kit supply arrangement with Adidas and a shirt sponsorship deal with betting firm SBOTOP.
In an interview with SportsPro last year, Radrizzani spoke of his intention to create a multinational club network that would help develop players that could one day represent Leeds in the Premier League.
“Our 49ers Enterprises team has always shared Andrea’s vision for constructing a powerful and winning club in the most competitive football league in the world, and the experience of the last three seasons has been more exhilarating than we could have ever imagined,” added Marathe.
“The hard work and bold leadership demonstrated by Andrea and his talented team has restored Leeds United’s rightful place in the Premier League and we look forward to playing an even bigger role in supporting their efforts to climb the table this year and into the future.”
