West Ham: Vanessa Gold Agrees to Sell Stake to Amanda Staveley

Vanessa Gold has agreed to sell her family’s 25.1% stake in West Ham United to a consortium led by Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, and PCP Capital Partners. The deal, announced following a failed buyout by Daniel Kretinsky, remains subject to an ongoing pre-emption process from existing shareholders.

Vanessa Gold Agrees to Sell Family Stake to Amanda Staveley

The ownership landscape at West Ham United is shifting once again. Former co-owner David Gold’s daughter, Vanessa Gold has confirmed that her family plans to divest its shareholding in the Championship club. The buyer is a consortium spearheaded by Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, and PCP Capital Partners, working in partnership with Ashland Forest Capital Partners.

Vanessa Gold stepped into a joint chair and director role following the passing of her father, David Gold, in 2023. Reflecting on her tenure, Gold noted the personal pride she took in continuing her family’s long association with the club, which included her own time as a youth team player and lifelong fan.

“As the daughter of David Gold, it was a great honour to step into a joint chair and director role at the club following his passing in 2023. Whether as a youth team player, a lifelong fan or an owner, my father’s priority was always to champion and protect this great club. Over the past three years I have taken huge personal pride in continuing that legacy and will always be hugely grateful to the staff, players and fans who allowed me to do so.”

Vanessa Gold, via The Guardian

The Collapse of the Kretinsky Deal and Pre-Emption Rights

The agreement with Staveley’s group follows the breakdown of a prior transaction. On June 12, the Gold family had agreed a sale with fellow shareholder Daniel Kretínsky and his EP Group. That proposed arrangement would have elevated Kretinsky’s stake from 27% to 43%, making him the club’s single largest shareholder ahead of David Sullivan, who holds a 38.8% stake.

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That deal ultimately failed to materialize over the summer, opening the door for Staveley’s consortium. However, the newly announced transition is not entirely final. The transaction remains subject to a formal pre-emption process, which gives existing West Ham shareholders the contractual option to purchase the Gold family’s shares directly before the external sale goes through.

A spokesperson for the Czech businessman issued a sharp response to the Staveley announcement, indicating that EP Group is reviewing its options, including exercising its pre-emption rights in full.

“The agreement we had reached with the Gold family in June provided stability for the club at a crucial time. Today’s announcement does the opposite. We will always act in the best interests of West Ham United and are reviewing all of our options, including exercising our pre-emption rights in full.”

Daniel Kretinsky’s spokesperson, via BBC Sport

Staveley’s Track Record and the Championship Reality

For Staveley and Ghodoussi, the West Ham move marks their return to English football ownership. The duo previously orchestrated the Saudi-backed takeover of Newcastle United in October 2021 alongside the Public Investment Fund, guiding the Tyneside club from relegation battles to Champions League qualification before their departure during the summer of 2024.

Her stated objective throughout the discussions has been securing stewardship capable of lifting West Ham back into the upper tier of English football.

“Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and PCP Capital Partners will bring deep experience and understanding of what it takes to lead a successful football club, and I have every confidence in what she and her partners can bring to West Ham. While the sale process proceeds, I will continue to act in the club’s best interests, as my father did and would expect of me.”

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Vanessa Gold, via BBC Sport

Preseason Preparations Amid Ownership Uncertainty

The boardroom maneuvering comes at a turbulent juncture for the club on the pitch. West Ham dropped out of the Premier League at the end of last season, suffering relegation just two seasons after winning the Europa Conference League in 2023.

Former Newcastle United shareholders Mehrdad Ghodoussi (L) and Amanda Staveley wave from the directors' box — Photo: bbc.com

As the sale process works through its legal stages, the squad is preparing for an immediate return campaign in the second tier. The club is scheduled to host Portsmouth in a Carabao Cup first-round tie, followed eight days later by their opening Championship fixture away at Burnley.