Soccer-Sheffield United takeover completed by COH Sports

Guardant Health

23/12/2024 14:42

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Sheffield United have been taken over
by COH Sports, the Championship club said on Monday, after the
American consortium completed a buyout from Saudi Arabia's
United World Group.
    COH Sports is led by Steven Rosen, founder and chairman of
Resilience Capital Partners, and Helmy Eltoukhy, co-founder and
chairman of biotech company Guardant Health. Both will join the
United board as co-chairmen with immediate effect.
    "COH Sports, a group of successful entrepreneurs, business
partners and friends, established to invest in sporting
opportunities, is delighted to confirm the acquisition of the
Blades," a club statement said.
    The group has acquired 100% of Blades Leisure Ltd, the
club's parent company, from United World Holdings, led by Prince
Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who have been
involved with the club since 2013.
    The Blades join a growing list of English clubs with U.S.
owners. Everton's takeover by Texas-based Friedkin Group last
week means that 10 of the 20 Premier League clubs are now under
majority American ownership.
    Sheffield United, managed by Chris Wilder, were relegated
from the Premier League last season and are currently top of the
second-tier Championship.
    "Like all Blades fans we want to see the club competing in
the top flight of English football consistently, not just on a
one-off basis, and we have been encouraged by the strong start
to this season," the new owners said.
    "The team has been performing strongly and we are committed
to supporting the management team to continue this progress."

 (Reporting by Trevor Stynes
Editing by David Goodman)
 ((Trevor.Stynes@thomsonreuters.com;))