Amanda Staveley shares PIF link-up amid Newcastle United ownership twist
The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund was at the FII Priority Summit in Rome last week, with a former Newcastle United co-owner in tow.
Former Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley was back alongside the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund last week.
Staveley spearheaded the Newcastle takeover by PIF back in 2021, taking up an initial 10% ownership stake which was later reduced to 6%. The Ripon-born financier played a key role in accelerating the club’s progress on and off the pitch post-takeover before stepping down and leaving the club in the summer of 2024.
Despite being linked with takeovers at other clubs, Staveley’s affinity towards Newcastle has remained, along with her relationship with PIF.
This week, Newcastle chairman and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan was speaking at the FII Priority Summit in Rome. Al-Rumayyan reiterated PIF’s position as ‘long-term, patient investors’ when it comes to its portfolio of businesses.
The Magpies chairman recently visited Tyneside for a summit at Matfen Hall. During his visit, he reaffirmed his long-term commitment to making Newcastle one of the leading clubs in world football.
Speaking at the FII summit, Al-Rumayyan outlined PIF’s stance on its global portfolio - which includes Newcastle United Football Club.
“For us at the PIF, we always continue to invest, be very much diverse and our portfolio structurally resilient,” he said. “We are a long-term patient investor and we will remain committed to all of our investments and investment strategy around the world.
“A lot of people thought we would stop deploying investments internationally. I can tell you that we're not going to stop. The percentages are going lower, but the absolute numbers will continue to grow.
“We just got our board to approve our new strategy until the end of 2030. What PIF did since 2016, we basically brought the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the world. Now our new strategy is to bring the world back to Saudi.”
Staveley was also present with PIF at the summit along with her husband, Mehrdad Ghodoussi.
After the event, Staveley took to Instagram to post a picture of herself with Ghodoussi. It was accompanied by the caption: “Thoroughly enjoyed our time at FII with PIF. And the chance to spend a little time with Hubby.”
Even two years after leaving Newcastle, Staveley remains highly regarded by supporters of the club. Her determination and tenacity to deliver the takeover, followed up by her passion for the football club, resonated with fans - many of whom would still welcome her return.
“We’ve looked at a lot of clubs, including Tottenham, but we are looking at clubs around the Premier League and the UK, Europe,” Staveley said. “We really want to be buying, going in and investing into a club again very soon.”
NUFC ownership update
The makeup of Newcastle’s ownership has changed slightly since the club’s 2021 takeover. Staveley’s initial 10% stake was diluted to 6% and absorbed by minority shareholders RB Sports & Media prior to her departure.
PIF and RB Sports & Media then shared Staveley’s 6% stake to leave an 85/15% split following her departure.
According to Bloomberg, Newcastle’s owners are seeking external investment and have held talks with US-based private equity firm, Arctos Partners over a potential investment.
The club are attempting to secure funding for the redevelopment of St James’ Park or the building of a new stadium. As part of that investment, the club could sell a minority stake.
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