West Ham Equity Stake Hits Market At $1B Valuation

Transition continues to hit the ownership ranks of the Premier League.

As Florida-based 777 Partners continues its acquisition efforts for Everton and Jim Ratcliffe extends his pursuit of part of Manchester United, an equity stake in West Ham United is now hitting the market.

Vanessa Gold, daughter of former West Ham United joint-chair David Gold, said on Tuesday that she would consider selling a “proportion” of her family’s shares to the “right partner.” The elder Gold, who died in January, passed his 25.1% stake in the club to his daughter on behalf of a family trust. Multinational financial advisory firm Rothschild & Co. has been appointed to aid the process.

“Any transaction to purchase some of our shares will be with my father’s legacy at the forefront of my mind which, of course, prioritizes his beloved West Ham United,” Vanessa Gold said.

David Gold first purchased shares in West Ham United in 1991 and rose to the joint-chair role in 2010.

Any deal is expected to happen at a premium at the roughly $790 million value placed on West Ham United in 2021, when Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský purchased a 27% stake. More recently, Forbes valued the club at $1.079 billion. In June, the club won its first major trophy in 43 years, capturing the UEFA Europa Conference League title. 

Club chairman David Sullivan remains in control of West Ham United and is its largest shareholder, holding nearly 39% of the shares.

In addition to the separate moves with Everton and Manchester United, Liverpool recently sold a minority stake to Dynasty Equity, and Chelsea raised $500 million in funding from Ares Management.