49ers Plan to Buy Leeds United for $530M

The San Francisco 49ers’ ownership group has a deal in place to purchase the Premier League’s Leeds United for more than $530 million, according to The Athletic. 

The deal includes an option for 49ers Enterprises to acquire 100% control of Leeds by January 2024 — including the club’s Elland Road stadium, which approved a plan in June to increase capacity to 55,000. 

49ers Enterprises originally purchased a 10% equity stake in the club worth a reported $13.6 million in 2018 from majority stakeholder and Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani.

Radrizzani bought the club from Italian entrepreneur Massimo Cellino in 2014 for $52 million and currently maintains a 56% ownership stake.

Leeds climbed back into the Premier League in 2020 after a 16-year absence, prompting 49ers Enterprises to steadily increase its stake. 

• In December 2020, it bumped its stake to 25%, valuing Leeds at $326 million.
• A month later, the group increased its minority stake to 37%.
• Last month, it increased its stake to 44%.
• The cost of buying 100% control includes the money already paid for the existing stakes. 

Radrizzani wants Leeds to be worth $1.15 billion within the next five years. Last year, the owner voiced his willingness to sell stakes in the club to reach that goal. It is expected that Radrizzani will retain a minority stake once the deal is finalized.