U.S. Investors Are Gunning for England’s Small Soccer Clubs

03 Dec U.S. Investors Are Gunning for England’s Small Soccer Clubs

American ownership has become a common feature in the English Premier League since the Glazer family’s acquisition of Manchester United in 2005. Currently, nine of the league’s 20 clubs are predominantly or entirely owned by U.S. individuals or entities. Despite the high costs of struggling Premier League clubs—often exceeding $500 million—American investors are increasingly turning their attention to clubs lower in the English soccer hierarchy.

In Leagues One and Two, which form the third and fourth tiers of English football, 11 out of 48 clubs have partial or full U.S. ownership. Notably, five of these clubs rank among the top nine in League One, with two poised for promotion to the Championship by season’s end.

This trend is expected to grow significantly. Adam Sommerfeld of Certus Capital, a brokerage for English sports team sales, predicts that up to 80% of clubs in these tiers could see American ownership within two years. Legal and industry experts agree, suggesting that this could lead to a domino effect across the league structure.