Red Bull are famous – or infamous, depending on your point of view – for their multi-club model, which was one of the first of its kind in football. Now, Leeds United are part of that global network.
Leeds fans don’t yet have clarity on the size of the stake that the energy drinks titans purchased from 49ers Enterprises in the summer, only that it is a ‘significant minority’ of the club’s equity.
Either way, that made Leeds the seventh club in their sprawling football empire.
That portfolio has now welcomed an eight club following Red Bull’s purchase part-takeover of Paris FC alongside Bernard Arnaut, the world’s fifth richest man.
Like their investment in Leeds, Red Bull have acquired a minority stake in Paris FC.
That perhaps signals a change in approach from the company, who have historically acted almost like a federal government, exerting influence centrally from their headquarters in Austria.
In West Yorkshire and Paris, it looks as though Red Bull will take more of a light-touch approach.
That will be welcomed by Leeds supporters who do not want Elland Road to become the ‘Red Bull Arena’ when the long-mooted redevelopment of the ground is complete.
At least, that and other marketing-orientated gimmicks are not likely if their stake remains the same. If it increases, it could be a different matter.
That was tabled as a possibility today, when City AM reported that Red Bull are reducing their expenditure in other sport to concentrate on football, opening the door to further investment in Leeds.
Red Bull investment links clarified; Their stake in Leeds will be revealed soon
Almost as soon as the news broke, it was buffeted back by the Yorkshire Evening Post, who reported that Red Bull have no immediate plans to up their stake.
The word ‘immediate’ might be key there.
Either way, Leeds fans seeking clarity on the extent of Red Bull’s stake in Leeds will get their answer early next year.
Customarily, the Whites have released their financial accounts between mid-March and mid-April.
In the notes to their financial statements, Leeds will reveal Red Bull’s stake. It has been suggested that it somewhere around 10 per cent, although those reports, which came from German media, are unverified.
We do know that Red Bull’s stake is lower than 25 per cent because neither the company itself nor any of its representatives are listed as a person of significant control on Companies House.
Leeds’ auditors, Gibson Booth, are currently in the process of reviewing the accounts, which are expected to reveal losses after failure to win promotion back to the Premier League in 2023-24.
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Leeds United’s multi-club plans: Could 49ers rival Red Bull?
Earlier this year, when it was revealed that Leeds’ technical director Gretar Steinsson was joining 49ers in a broader role, it was widely presumed to be the first steps towards a 49ers-owned multi-club launch.
Why else would the 49ers, whose ownership of Leeds is their only soccer investment to date, reshuffle the pack?
The official line from the club is that there are no immediate plans to take over another club outside Leeds, but it would seem a strange move if that was not on the horizon in some capacity.
That would put the 49ers in an unusual position of being partnered with a direct rival in the multi-club market, i.e., Red Bull.
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