Staveley plans to acquire a 25% stake in West Ham

A group led by Amanda Staveley, former co-owner of Newcastle United, has entered discussions to acquire a 25% stake in Championship club West Ham. The consortium, which also includes Staveley’s husband, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, has expressed strong interest in purchasing the shares held by Vanessa Gold. Negotiations have intensified in recent weeks.

According to sources close to the deal, the consortium first explored investing in West Ham at the end of last season. Following West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League, the group now says it is prepared to acquire additional shares, potentially allowing it to become the club’s majority shareholder. Currently, David Sullivan and Daniel Kretinsky hold the largest stakes in the club. Amanda Staveley was previously involved in a consortium bidding for Tottenham Hotspur during the previous season. She and her husband sold their shares and exited Newcastle in July 2024. David Sullivan stepped down as co-chairman of Newcastle in June 2024 following a joint investigation by *BBC Panorama* and *The Times*. Several women have accused the billionaire of abusing his power and predatory behavior toward them, sometimes when they were teenagers. These allegations, brought by seven women, span several decades, dating back to the 1980s. All were young women, aspiring models seeking work with his newspapers, the *Daily Sport* and *Sunday Sport*. They accuse him of sexually exploitative and predatory behavior, including pressuring them for sexual favors in exchange for career promises. Sullivan, 77, has vehemently denied the claims, which coincide with the period when he built his fortune in tabloid journalism, the adult entertainment industry, and football. The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has contacted West Ham regarding these “extremely serious allegations” and is seeking “urgent information” on Sullivan’s suitability for his current role.