Vanessa Gold has announced that she has reached an agreement to dispose of her family’s 25.1 percent holding in West Ham United to a consortium fronted by former Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley. The transaction, which also involves Staveley’s husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi and the investment firm PCP Capital Partners, is set to transfer the Gold family’s share of the club to a new partnership that includes Ashland Forest Capital Partners. While the deal has been signed and is legally binding, it remains subject to a pre-emption process that gives the club’s existing shareholders the right to match the offer and acquire the shares themselves.
The consortium released a statement confirming the agreement, noting that the sale will only proceed once the pre-emption rights have been exercised or lapse. "Amanda Staveley, her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi, PCP Capital Partners and Ashland Forest Capital Partners can confirm they have agreed the purchase of the Gold family’s 25.1 per cent stake in West Ham United," the statement read. "A legally binding agreement has been signed, but the transaction remains subject to a pre‑emption process whereby existing shareholders may elect to purchase the shares.
No further comment will be made while the legal process runs its course." The announcement comes amid a period of uncertainty for West Ham’s ownership structure. Earlier in June, the club disclosed that Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, through his EP Group vehicle, was poised to become the club’s largest shareholder after agreeing to buy the Gold family’s stake.
That deal was expected to close within a few weeks, boosting Kretinsky’s holding to roughly 43 percent and overtaking the 38.8 percent owned by co‑chairman David Sullivan. However, the transaction never materialised, and Kretinsky’s anticipated increase in influence has been put on hold. Sullivan reacted publicly to the latest development, expressing disappointment that the Gold family chose to pursue a different buyer.
He reminded supporters that the June agreement with the Gold family had provided much‑needed stability during a turbulent period, and that the new announcement appeared to undermine that stability. Sullivan also indicated that he and EP Group are reviewing all options, including exercising their pre‑emption rights in full, to protect their interests in the club. In her own statement, Vanessa Gold reflected on her three‑year tenure as joint‑chair and director, a role she assumed after the death of her father David Gold in 2023.
She spoke of the honour she felt in continuing her father’s legacy, describing his lifelong dedication to the Hammers as a guiding principle for her. Gold thanked the staff, players and fans for their support, and explained that while an initial agreement with Kretinsky would have made EP Group the single largest shareholder, that deal fell through for reasons beyond her control. She went on to detail the new arrangement with the Staveley‑led consortium, emphasizing that the sale is still subject to the pre‑emption process.
Gold stressed her commitment to transparency, stating that she wanted supporters to understand where the negotiations stand and what her intentions are. Her ultimate goal, she said, is to ensure West Ham is placed under leadership that can unlock the club’s full potential and restore it to a prominent position in the Premier League. Gold expressed confidence in the expertise of Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and PCP Capital Partners, noting their proven track record in football investment. She cited Staveley’s role in orchestrating the Saudi‑backed takeover of Newcastle United in 2021, which saw Mike Ashley exit the club, and the subsequent transformation of Newcastle from relegation candidates to Champions League participants and, later, Carabao Cup winners.
Gold believes that the same strategic vision and operational know‑how can be applied to West Ham, helping the club navigate its current challenges. West Ham United itself issued a statement acknowledging the provisional agreement and clarifying the next steps. The club explained that the pre‑emption rights process will occur in two rounds: the first round allows existing shareholders to purchase a proportional share of the offered stake, and any remaining shares will be available in a second round. The entire process is expected to take roughly two months, during which the ownership structure will remain unchanged.
The club also reassured fans that day‑to‑day operations would not be disrupted by the ownership negotiations. Preparations for the upcoming season, including player recruitment, training camps and commercial activities, are continuing as planned.
West Ham thanked its supporters for their loyalty and asked for patience while the legal and procedural matters are resolved. Beyond the immediate ownership saga, the Hammers face on‑field challenges.
After being relegated at the end of the previous season, West Ham will be looking to bounce back quickly, with their first match of the campaign scheduled against Burnley on August 16. The club hopes that a stable ownership framework, whether through the Staveley consortium or existing shareholders exercising pre‑emption rights, will provide the strategic backing needed to achieve promotion and re‑establish themselves in the top tier of English football. In summary, Vanessa Gold has entered into a binding agreement to sell the Gold family’s 25.1 percent stake in West Ham United to a consortium led by Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, PCP Capital Partners and Ashland Forest Capital Partners.
The deal is pending a pre‑emption rights process that gives current shareholders the opportunity to purchase the shares. While the situation remains fluid, both the club and its supporters have been urged to remain patient as the legal procedures unfold, with the ultimate aim of securing stable and visionary ownership for the Hammers' future success.