Tottenham Hotspur, one of the world’s most successful football clubs, is reportedly on the verge of being taken over by American-Iranian billionaire John Jaffe and his company MSP Sports Capital for £3.1 billion. Jaffe, who has also looked into investing in Everton, is said to be in charge of the Spurs purchase.
According to the Financial Times, Jaffe is assembling a consortium to provide 70% of the funds for the proposed takeover, with Gulf partners providing the remaining 30%. The bid is expected to be $3.75 billion, with the club valued at $3 billion and the remaining $750 million going toward Tottenham’s debt.
The potential takeover has sparked debate in the football world, with many questioning the motivations behind the bid. While Tottenham has not officially put themselves up for sale, Jaffe’s interest in the club is a clear indication of English football’s growing appeal to foreign investors.
Jaffe, who runs his own private equity firm, MSP Capital, is passionate about a variety of sports from around the world. They own 15% of the McLaren Formula One team, as well as football clubs in Belgium, Spain, and Germany. They have also discussed purchasing a minority stake in Everton.
Even in the world of football, where clubs are frequently bought and sold for large sums of money, the figure of £3.1 billion is staggering. Tottenham’s appeal, on the other hand, is clear. The club has one of the best football stadiums in the world, as well as a fantastic training facility. They also play in the Champions League on a regular basis, despite not having won a trophy in 15 years.
Tottenham is an appealing proposition for any billionaire looking to purchase a Premier League club. The club’s location in London is a hub of business and commerce, and owning a club in the city would be a significant status symbol. The fact that Liverpool and Manchester United could be up for sale adds to the intrigue.
Some are questioning the proposed takeover’s timing. Is now the best time to invest such large sums of money, with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic causing financial uncertainty for many clubs? Others, however, argue that now is the time to buy, with some of the world’s wealthiest people eager to get a piece of the English football pie.
Chelsea’s £2.5 billion sale to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital last year only serves to highlight the value of Premier League clubs. The fact that Tottenham could be up for sale only adds fuel to the fire of rumor and speculation.
However, it is worth noting that Tottenham have not officially put themselves up for sale. There has been no approach from Jaffe or anyone else regarding the club, and it is not for sale. As talks about investment in Everton continue, it is unclear what impact the Tottenham takeover bid will have on that potential deal.
What is certain is that the football world is changing. With the ongoing pandemic causing financial uncertainty for many clubs, the possibility of a billionaire buying out a Premier League club for a large sum of money is becoming more common. It remains to be seen whether Jaffe’s bid for Tottenham will be successful, but one thing is certain: the football world will be watching closely.