Former Newcastle United chief Amanda Staveley in talks with PIF over new role amid Tottenham link
01/03/2025 02:45 PM
Amanda Staveley became a semi-messianic figure in her nearly three years at Newcastle United and her shock exit was arguably the defining story of the summer at St James’ Park.
As the architect and face of the deal that saw the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) buy and commit billions of petrodollars to the club, Staveley represented salvation for the Magpies post-Mike Ashley.
The financier, who also bought a stake in the club using funds from deal partners the Reuben Brothers, inspired tifos in the Gallowgate end and featured heavily in Amazon’s 2023 documentary set at the club.
By all accounts, she was heavily involved in almost every department across the club. So it was a surprise when, after a PSR-stricken transfer window for Newcastle, she sold her stake and resigned as a director.
It was even more of a jolt to Newcastle fans when it emerged that Staveley is interested in investing in Tottenham, who have commissioned the Rothschild bank to search for a new minority equity partner.
She and her husband and business partner Mehrdad Ghodoussi have made no secret about their ambitions to return to football.
They have caveated that it is with a heavy hear that it won’t be with Newcastle, whose insipid first third of the season has given way to a stunning run of form that has seen Eddie Howe’s side win five on the spin.
It is the sort of momentum that Staveley herself would love to be involved with.
The 51-year-old has Huntington’s disease, a degenerative neurological condition. She has previously expressed her need for hands-on work to keep busy and psychologically active.
Whether Tottenham is the right destination for her and her PCP Capital Partners-led consortium, which has reportedly raised £500m for a new football investment, has therefore been questioned.
Daniel Levy is the all-seeing eye at Spurs and is unlikely to relinquish much material influence at the North London club, especially not if – as has been suggested – he is only looking to sell 10-15 per cent.
However, a new opportunity may now be on the cards thanks to her allies in Saudi Arabia.
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Amanda Staveley offered Saudi football role amid Tottenham investment link
Newcastle are not the only football project Saudi Arabia is dedicating dizzying time and resources to – not by a long shot, in fact.
As well as their hundreds of strategic agreements with various clubs, confederations, and commercial entities, the Gulf state will also host the World Cup in 2034.
The mind-melting stadiums PIF have committed funds to building for the tournament have led fans of Newcastle, who are planning their own rebuild, to dream of a space-age St James’ Park revamp.
That would have been a project that Staveley has been heavily invested in. Now, the 2034 World Cup may give her the chance to have input into even bigger infrastructure projects.
As relayed by CityAM, the Saudis have offered an advisory role to Staveley, who the report claims remains close to PIF, the country’s sovereign wealth fund.
It is said that, while she will not be given a formal position, she will have the chance to act as a ‘sounding board’, leveraging on her connections with European clubs.
That could be a particularly important brief given that Premier League clubs and their peers on the continent are expected to have to heavily adapt their schedules for the winter tournament.
Whether that would be tempting for Staveley as she continues her overtures towards Tottenham remains to be seen.
Why did Staveley and Ghodoussi leave Newcastle?
When PCP Capital Partners formally departed Tyneside, several theories were spun as to what had gone on behind the scenes to prompt such an abrupt departure.
Staveley’s exit shocked Newcastle’s players and she herself admitted that her preference was to stay at the club rather than find an alternative investment project.
There were whispers that she and Ghodoussi had perhaps overextended her brief and become too involved at St James’ Park.
Newcastle CEO Darren Eales – who will soon leave the club to focus on his battle with cancer – reportedly told PIF representatives that a lighter touch was needed.
2024 was not kind to Staveley in a business sense, with the financier losing a court battle with a former business associate that it is said nearly left her bankrupt.
That has also been cited as a potential reason why she and Ghodoussi did not put up more of a fight when the Reuben Brothers offered £58m for their small stake in the club.
In interviews, the pair have been diplomatic about their exit and there is clearly no bad blood between themselves at the club, even if there appears to be regret on PCP’s side.
