From FSG to Everton's new owners - the FULL list of 11 American owners in the Premier League

The announcement that Merseyside neighbours Everton will be bought by American billionaire business, film producer and AS Roma owner Dan Friedkin will mean that 11 Premier League teams are owned either partly or outright by American firms.

Liverpool are, of course, one of these teams. Fenway Sports Group (FSG), and its founders John Henry and Tom Werner, bought the club back in 2010 from fellow Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett, and oversaw the club’s first English league title in 30 years, as well as three Champions League final appearances. FSG also own Major League Baseball (MLB) titans Boston Red Sox and National Hockey League (NHL) team Pittsburgh Penguins.

Henry was part of the group to propose the formation of the European Super League, on which he would have been a Vice-Chairman. With 14 club votes needed for any rule changes, broadcast or commercial proposals, American interests are getting extremely close to having a dominance over the future of the Premier League. But who actually are these owners?

Manchester United

Despite a highly-publicised stake bought by British businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United are still majority-owned (51.75%) by the Glazer family. The family are valued at $10b by Forbes and have been one of the most notorious owners in Premier League history. Despite discontent over the team’s performance in the past decade, spending on players has amounted to well over £1b. The family also own multiple holding companies and the National Football League’s (NFL) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who notoriously signed Tom Brady back in 2019.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa are slowly becoming one of English football’s unexpected success stories following their purchase by V Sports in 2018. V Sports is a holding company founded by Wes Edens, an American billionaire who also founded Fortress Investment Group (who are in turn owned by the Mubadala sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi) and the National Basketball Association’s Milwaukee Bucks. Edens’ partner is Naffes Sawiris, who is chairman at Villa and the richest Egyptian in the world. 

Villa’s 4th placed finish last season was the club’s best since 1995-96.

Manchester City

Whilst notoriously owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group, American private equity firm Silver Lake have an 18% in the four-time reigning Premier League champions. Silver Lake are the 11th-largest private equity firm in the world. None of their members sit on Manchester City’s board.

Chelsea

Following the high-profile forced sale by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, Chelsea were bought out in a joint venture by Clearlake Capital and businessman Todd Boehly. Clearlake are the 14th-largest private equity firm in the world, rising through the ranks after selling distressed securities following the 2007 financial crisis. Boehly, meanwhile, also had minority stakes in the MLB’s LA Dodgers, NBA’s LA Lakers and Women’s National Basketball Association’s LA Sparks, as well as owning Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.

Arsenal

American businessman Stan Kroenke has held partial stakes in Arsenal since 2007, rising to majority ownership by 2011. The Kroenke Sports & Entertainment organisation have a wide range of investments in the sporting world, including the NFL’s LA Rams, NBA’s Denver Nuggets and NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.

Fulham

Fulham are owned by Pakistani-American businessman Shahid Khan. As the wealthiest person of Pakistani origin in the world (around $8bn), he also owns the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and professional wrestling company All Elite Wrestling (AEW). AEW have ran multiple sellout shows at Wembley Stadium in 2023 and 2024, with another planned for 2025.

Crystal Palace

Whilst Steve Parish remains on the board with a 10.74% stake, American businessman John Textor owns 40% of the club through Eagle Football Holdings Ltd., a group that also own French giants Lyon and Brazilian outfit Botafogo. Palace are also minority-owned (18%) by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, a company founded by David Blitzer, the senior executive of Blackstone. Harris Blitzer also own the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.

Bournemouth

Bill Foley bought Bournemouth back in 2022 following his creation of a new NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights, in 2017. Foley also owns Auckland FC in New Zealand, and minority stakes in French side Lorient and Edinburgh-based Hibernian.

Ipswich Town

The Premier League’s newest team are owned by Gamechanger 20, a company in-turn owned by ORG Portfolio Management. ORG manage pension funds for the largest pension fund in America. American businessman and ORG leader Ed Schwartz is the companies representative to the club. The club are, famously, also minority-owned by music star Ed Sheeran.

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