Newcastle United takeover: Timeline of events as Mike Ashley launches fresh legal challenge against the Premier League
By Liam Kennedy
Published 7th May 2021, 09:14 BST
Updated 7th May 2021, 09:56 BST
The Newcastle United takeover is a never-ending saga as Mike Ashley battles the Premier League to approve the Amanda Staveley-led takeover.
It’s been over a year since PCP Partners, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the Reuben brothers agreed to buy the Magpies for £300million before the EFL refused to approve the deal.
But this takeover speculation started well before the Saudi-bid when Ashley again put the club up for sale in October 2017.
From the first beginnings to the very latest – scroll and click through the pages to see our takeover timeline:
From the first beginnings to the very latest – scroll and click through the pages to see our takeover timeline:
9. Sunday, June 30 - Rafa, the end
Mike Ashley has blamed the Bin Zayed Group for Rafa Benitez’s departure at Newcastle United, according to the Mirror. They claim Ashley ended contract talks with Benitez following discussions with would-be buyer Sheikh Khaled. Benitez’s contract comes to an end. Photo: Alex Broadway
The Bin Zayed Group have issued a fresh statement on their efforts to takeover Newcastle – this time, bizarrely, through Redding. It read: "Both parties have worked diligently in finalising a deal, none more so than ourselves." Photo: -
11. Saturday, July 20 - Concerns about BZG funding
Claims from the financial publications and the City that the Bin Zayed Group’s bid will be linked in to US hedge funds. This is denied privately by sources close to the bid. Photo: Chris Hondros
Mike Ashley speaks to Mail about his Newcastle ownership. Claims he is a willing seller. On BZG he said: "The last bid, the one from UAE, he's a prince and he's got £38bn or £100bn, all these numbers — well, why would you even care what you're paying then? What difference would £10m either way make?" Photo: Jordan Mansfield