The new season kicks off on 21 August, but the off-field business has already begun with American investors making further inroads into English clubs. Eleven teams in the 20-club Premier League were under American ownership during the 2023-24 season, which continues a wave of investments in English football.
The wave began in 2005 when the Glazer family took control of Manchester United and is now widespread from the elite game to the lower leagues, with celebrities buying and investing.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of Wrexham, in the fourth tier of English football, is one of the success stories of recent years, and recently hip hop star Snoop Dogg bought into Championship club Swansea City. Another potentially major development could involve one of football’s biggest brands, Liverpool.
Their ownership, Fenway Sports Group, is understood to have been considering selling down part of their stake, potentially in a deal that could value the Reds at nearly $6bn, a clear sign of the boom valuations in the game.
Investors are still attracted by the commercial improvements they can implement to increase revenue streams, not to mention their profitability.
Last season, television rights provided more than $3.3bn in revenue for Premier League clubs, around half their overall take, and analysts believe that with a limited supply of traditional clubs and a truly global fanbase, its “unique’ live proposition means its growth as an alternative investment asset class is set to continue.
