Brentford owner Matthew Benham is exploring a sale – Club confirms
Brentford has officially announced that Matthew Benham, the club’s owner, is actively considering selling a partial share in the Premier League team located in West London.
Benham, a former City financier who amassed his wealth in the gambling sector, rescued his childhood club from bankruptcy in 2012.
Since then, he has played a pivotal role in guiding the team from the third tier to the top-flight division.
Despite receiving commendation for their astute business strategies that have allowed them to perform beyond expectations, Brentford acknowledges the potential advantages of securing additional investment.
“It’s no surprise that there has been interest in investment opportunities at Brentford FC,” the club said.
“While Matthew Benham’s commitment to the club remains as strong as ever, it is only natural, and perhaps even essential, for us to carefully explore what new investment could potentially mean for the future.
“We must not stand still and we remain absolutely determined to safeguard the long-term future and to remain competitive in the world’s most challenging and successful league.”
The specific amount Matthew Benham is seeking remains undisclosed, but reports, initially from Bloomberg, indicate that the potential deal could value Brentford at several hundred million pounds. Although earlier this year, the US sport business Sportico estimated the club’s value at £160m, recent trends in Premier League investments suggest that the actual figure could surpass this significantly.
For instance, Everton is reportedly on track to be acquired for over £500m by the US-based group 777 Partners.
In a comparable scenario, Crystal Palace received a valuation of approximately £260m when multi-club owner John Textor acquired a 40 per cent stake in 2021.
Brentford is presently positioned in mid-table during their third consecutive season in the Premier League, following a 15th-place finish last year and a 13th-place finish the season before.
Their return to the top flight in 2021, after an absence of more than 70 years, was largely attributed to their shrewd player trading and a data-driven approach.
In 2020, they inaugurated their new 17,000-capacity stadium, the Gtech Community Stadium, with Benham’s investment playing a crucial role in its realization.
Benham is reported to have invested over £100m in the club overall. Given the increasing trend of private investment companies from the US entering European football, it is anticipated that there will be interest from this sector in Brentford’s potential minority stake sale.
Brentford owner Matthew Benham is exploring a sale – Club confirms
