Who Owns Newcastle United?

Newcastle United Football Club was formed on December 9, 1892, through the merger of two local clubs: Newcastle East End, which had been founded in 1882, and Newcastle West End, which had been founded in 1882 as well. The merger was driven by the desire to create a single, stronger club capable of competing at the highest level of English football. The newly formed club adopted the name Newcastle United and took up residence at St James' Park, which had previously been used by Newcastle West End.

The club's early decades were marked by considerable success. Newcastle United won the First Division championship four times between 1905 and 1927 (1905, 1907, 1909, and 1927) and reached the FA Cup final six times in the same era, winning in 1910. The club was one of the dominant forces in English football during the Edwardian period, with players such as Colin Veitch and Bill McCracken becoming household names in the sport.

The 1950s brought another period of FA Cup success, with the club winning the trophy in 1951, 1952, and 1955, the latter two under the captaincy of Jackie Milburn, who remains one of the most celebrated figures in the club's history. Milburn's statue stands outside St James' Park to this day. The club's fortunes fluctuated through the 1960s and 1970s, with relegation to the Second Division in 1961 and a return to the top flight in 1965.

The most commercially significant era in the club's modern history came in the 1990s under manager Kevin Keegan, who transformed Newcastle into one of England's most exciting and well-supported clubs. The team, featuring players including Alan Shearer (signed for a then-world-record fee of £15 million in 1996), Peter Beardsley, and David Ginola, finished second in the Premier League in 1995-96, famously blowing a 12-point lead to Manchester United. Sir Bobby Robson subsequently managed the club from 1999 to 2004, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League in 2002-03.

Mike Ashley, the founder of Sports Direct, acquired Newcastle United in 2007 for approximately £133 million. His 14-year ownership was deeply unpopular with supporters, characterized by underinvestment in the squad, two relegations to the Championship (2009 and 2016), and persistent protests from the fanbase. The club's sale to the PIF-led consortium in October 2021 was greeted with widespread celebration among supporters.

Under the PIF consortium's ownership, Newcastle United has invested significantly in the playing squad, with major signings including Alexander Isak (signed from Real Sociedad for approximately £63 million in 2022), Sandro Tonali (signed from AC Milan for approximately £52 million in 2023, though subsequently banned for 10 months for betting violations), Harvey Barnes, and Tino Livramento. The club finished fourth in the Premier League in 2022-23, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2003. The 2023-24 season was more difficult, with the club finishing seventh and missing European competition. As of February 2026, the club is competing in the Premier League under Eddie Howe's management with ambitions to return to European competition.