Former Saudi owner of English soccer club returns to pitch

• Prince sold Sheffield Utd in 2024
• Looking to invest in new clubs
• ‘We’ll use lessons we’ve learned’

The former Saudi royal owner of the English Championship side Sheffield United, Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is returning to the football market with a sports investment fund worth as much as SAR1 billion ($266 million).

Prince Abdullah told the Sports Investment Forum in Riyadh this week that his group intends to contribute to 20 percent of the fund.

“We’re preparing to launch the new fund, where we’ll reinvest in new clubs, using the lessons we’ve learned from past experiences,” he told the conference in the Saudi capital. 

“The focus of the fund’s investments will primarily be in Europe, especially England, with potential opportunities in North America as well.”

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The prince, who is the grandson of the late King Abdulaziz Al Saud, heads United World Group.

The group sold its interest in Sheffield United in December to the American consortium COH Sports for an undisclosed sum, believed to be in the region of €105 million ($116 million). 

United World has also sold its stake in La Berrichonne de Châteauroux, which plays in the third tier of French football. 

Prince Abdullah said the group would be exiting investments in India and the UAE, without giving details.

According to the United World website, investments in the two countries include Kerala United FC and Al Hilal United.

United World also owns Beerschot, currently in fourth position in the Belgian Pro League.

Prince Abdullah was at the helm of Sheffield United, nicknamed the Blades, from 2013, overseeing the club’s three promotions to the English Premier League, two relegations and appearances in cup semi-finals.

“Financially, we achieved more than double our initial investment, which is fantastic. But I regret not doing even better,” he said. 

Here he was referencing the £40 million ($51.7 million) lost in television broadcasting rights alone, coupled with the loss of ticketing revenue as a result of the Covid pandemic when the world, including football, came to a virtual standstill.

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in sports, and in football in particular. 

Its largest sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, which has assets worth more than $925 billion, led a buyout of Newcastle United in 2021, alongside PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media, in a deal valued at about $410 million.

The purchase was part of the wider Gulf interest in the sport, with Manchester City owned by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Paris Saint-Germain owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, a $526 billion sovereign wealth fund.

Notwithstanding Gulf Arab wealth, “there’s a stereotype that we have endless money, and just sign cheques; that we’ll pay $20 for something worth $10,” Prince Abdullah said.