Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is set to become the largest shareholder at West Ham United. His company, 1890 Holdings, will buy a significant stake from the Gold family, taking his total share in the club to around 43 per cent.
The announcement comes at an extremely difficult time for the club, who have been relegated to the Championship and are also dealing with a serious scandal involving current co-owner David Sullivan.
Kretinsky’s shareholding will rise from 27 per cent to approximately 43 per cent, while the share held by the late David Gold’s family, now represented by his daughter Vanessa, will drop from 25.1 per cent to just over nine per cent. Sullivan, who currently holds 38.8 per cent of the shares, will become the second-largest shareholder as a result. Kretinsky and Gold have also agreed to vote together on key decisions.
West Ham are in a difficult financial position, having posted a loss of £104 million in the 2024/25 season. With relegation from the Premier League meaning revenues will fall further, Kretinsky’s EP Group is prepared to provide additional funding to keep the club afloat.
In a joint statement, Kretinsky and Gold said their priority is to “firmly safeguard the future of this football club,” adding that they aim to stabilise the club, hold on to as many key players as possible, and win promotion back to the Premier League under manager Nuno Espírito Santo.
The deal comes amid serious allegations against Sullivan, with seven women having come forward with claims of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour against the 77-year-old. Sullivan, who became a shareholder in 2010 after a career in the adult entertainment industry, has strongly denied all allegations and has stepped down from his positions while he seeks to clear his name.
Kretinsky and Gold addressed the allegations directly, saying the revelations had “deeply disturbed” them and that their thoughts were with the women involved. “Any abuse of power is abhorrent, and standing up to it requires great courage,” they said.
