How the sale of Newcastle United to Saudi Arabia’s PIF transformed the club’s fortunes

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Newcastle players celebrate after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London on March 16, 2025. (AP Photo)
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Updated 20 March 2025
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How the sale of Newcastle United to Saudi Arabia’s PIF transformed the club’s fortunes

  • NUFC was purchased by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in October 2021, marking the start of a major turnaround for the club
  • Under head coach Eddie Howe, the English football side have avoided relegation and quickly become top Premier League contenders

DUBAI: For the majority of football fans, Jan. 22, 2021, is unlikely to be a date that sticks in their long-term memory. But for supporters of one club in particular, it is one that is laden with significance.

With just 15 minutes left of Newcastle United’s match against Leeds United at Elland Road, the score was 0-0. A miserable Premier League season looked set to continue for Eddie Howe’s team. 




Newcastle's head coach Eddie Howe lifts the trophy after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London on March 16, 2025. (AP)

Then up stepped Jonjo Shelvey to give Newcastle a priceless 1-0 victory. It is no exaggeration to say that the win instantly changed the complexion of the team’s season and with it the club’s trajectory.

Going into their 21st match of the league season, Newcastle United had found themselves with just one previous win, leaving them stuck in the relegation zone.

FASTFACTS

• Newcastle is a one-club city.

• Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup win was their first trophy in 55 years.

• Newcastle have won Four League titles and six FA Cups.

After the win at Leeds, however, Newcastle would embark on a run that would see them win five of their next six matches, and nine of the next 13. The team cruised to safety and ended the season in a comfortable 11th place.

Howe had conjured a miracle that barely seemed feasible just a few months earlier when he was tasked with turning around the club’s fortunes following their sale by long-time owner Mike Ashley.

On Sunday, as Howe, his team, and chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan celebrated with delirious fans at Wembley after Newcastle defeated Liverpool 2-1 in the Carabao Cup final, those memories from just three years earlier must have seemed like a distant bad dream.




NUFC Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan celebrates at Wembley after Newcastle defeated Liverpool 2-1 to win the title on March 16, 2025. (AFP)

Newcastle had won their first major trophy in 55 years, justifying the faith that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) had shown in the club and the city when it finally completed a takeover on Oct. 7, 2021.

PIF, alongside Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners and Reuben Brothers, had been pursuing the club for more than a year. Once the deal with Ashley had been completed, they set about reawakening a sleeping giant — one of England’s and Europe’s biggest clubs.

Newcastle United supporters had had few reasons to celebrate since the mid-1990s when manager Kevin Keegan’s “Entertainers” team had come close to winning the Premier League, only to lose out to Alex Ferguson’s unstoppable Manchester United.




Fans at Newcastle’s St. James’ Park have seen their club transformed in just three years. (AFP)

Now, backed by PIF and its chairman Al-Rumayyan in the boardroom, and with Staveley and husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi initially their public face, this was a club reborn.

The mission was to not only build a successful football team, but to also rejuvenate the local area surrounding St James’ Park in this one-club city.

First up was to hire Howe, a promising young English coach who had performed footballing miracles with Bournemouth FC by taking them from League One to the Premier League.




In this photo taken on October 7, 2021, Newcastle United supporters celebrate outside the club's stadium St James' Park in Newcastle upon Tyne in England after the sale of the football club to a Saudi-led consortium was confirmed. (AFP)

While at the time some supporters had expected a more established European coach, PIF’s decision to give Howe the reins on Nov. 8, 2021, has proved to be inspired.

Next was to assemble and oversee a squad capable of Premier League survival. If and when that was achieved, they would need to go on to challenge the country’s elite clubs at the other end of the table.

Without splurging on superstar names, Howe’s signings were astute. January of 2022 saw the arrival of Kieran Trippier for Atletico Madrid, Chris Wood from Burnley, Matt Targett from Aston Villa, and former Newcastle youth player Dan Burn from Brighton.

But, without a doubt, the jewel in the crown was Bruno Guimaraes from Olympique Lyon. Fans instantly fell in love with their gifted Brazilian midfielder.




Newcastle United's Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes celebrates on the pitch on March 16, 2025. (AFP) 

Another masterful trick managed by Howe was to rejuvenate players like Joelinton Cassio Apolinario de Lira, Sean Longstaff, and Miguel Almiron, who had stagnated under the reign of previous coach Steve Bruce and owner Ashley.

After relegation was easily avoided with a stunning second half to the 2021-22 Premier League season, the squad was strengthened in the summer transfer window with the signings of goalkeeper Nick Pope from Burney, highly rated Dutch defender Sven Botman from Lille, and the superlative Swedish international Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad.

Newcastle now had a formidable squad that was ready to challenge for trophies and European places. And that is exactly what they did in the 2022-23 season.




This combination of photos taken during the English League Cup final match between Newcastle United and Liverpool shows (clockwise, from top left) NUFC's Alexander Isak scoring their second goal, striker Callum Wilson (#09) fighting for the ball with Liverpool defender #Andrew Robertson, midfielder Harvey Barnes (#11) fighting for the ball with Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai, and Liverpool players reacting after Newcastle scored their second goal to win the title. (Reuters & AFP photos) 

At the start of 2023, Howe led the club to its first major cup final since 1998. But, on Feb. 28, the still-developing team found the task of defeating Manchester United a step too far, losing 2-0 at Wembley Stadium.

Despite the cup final defeat, Howe’s first full season as manager ended on a major high as the club finished in fourth place in the Premier League to secure a spot in the following season’s UEFA Champions League.

The following season would prove to be one of consolidation. Despite the signings of Anthony Gordon from Everton, Sandro Tonali from AC Milan, and Harvey Barnes from Leicester City, the team found it hard to balance the challenges of the Premier League and European competition.

 

 

A stunning 4-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain at St James’ Park in October, could not stop Newcastle from exiting the Champions League in the group stages. Their final position of seventh in the Premier League would have disappointed fans hoping for another invite to Europe’s top table.

But that was only a prelude to what will now go down as one of the greatest seasons in Newcastle’s history. There were moments of uncertainty for fans as the team’s Premier League form fluctuated throughout the current campaign. But glory was just around the corner. 

A superb two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final win, which saw a 2-0 victory at the Emirates followed by another at St James Park, gave Newcastle another chance to claim its first trophy in generations. This time it would be against Premier League leaders and England’s most successful club, Liverpool.




Newcastle fans erupt in celebration after Newcastle United's victory at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025. (AFP)

Sunday, March 16 would prove a golden day for Newcastle. Their fans, who had taken over central London in the two days leading up to the final, were as remarkable in the stands as their heroes were on the pitch.

Goals by the local hero Burn and talisman Isak either side of half time left supporters in dreamland. Despite a late Liverpool goal, Newcastle were not denied a well deserved 2-1 win.

Cue Bruno’s tears, Al-Rumayyan’s joyous celebrations and pure delirium on the Wembley terraces.

It was a victory 55 years in the making, but one achieved almost in a blink of an eye since the dark days of 2021.
 

 


Salah poses for celebration selfie with Liverpool fans in Premier League title-winning victory

Updated 27 April 2025
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Salah poses for celebration selfie with Liverpool fans in Premier League title-winning victory

  • Arne Slot’s men stormed back after conceding a surprise early goal
  • Top-scorer Salah scored the goal the crowd craved, celebrated by grabbing a fan’s phone before taking a selfie in front of the Kop

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool demolished Tottenham 5-1 to clinch the Premier League title at an impassioned Anfield on Sunday, sealing a record-equalling 20th English top-flight crown.
Arne Slot’s men stormed back after conceding a surprise early goal to dominate the first half as the decibel level soared among 60,000-plus crowd.
Liverpool, who can no longer be caught by second-placed Arsenal, are now level with bitter rivals Manchester United as the joint-most successful club in English top-flight history.
Slot’s men started on the front foot at an expectant Anfield after a stirring rendition of club anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in the warm spring sunshine.
Mohamed Salah had an early sighter and Cody Gakpo went close with a spectacular overhead kick but Tottenham briefly threatened to become party poopers when Dominic Solanke powered home a header from a James Maddison corner in the 12th minute.
But Liverpool were level just four minutes later when Luis Diaz converted Dominik Szoboszlai’s cross from close range. The offside flag went up but VAR awarded the goal.
The momentum was now all with Liverpool and the home side took the lead in the 24th minute when Alexis Mac Allister thundered the ball home from the 18-yard line past the flying Guglielmo Vicario.
Now the party was well and truly started and Gakpo made it 3-1, slamming a shot into the bottom corner after Spurs failed to clear.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou had made eight changes from the team that lost to Nottingham Forest last week as he prioritizes the semifinals of the Europa League and they now had a mountain to climb.
The Liverpool fans — deprived of celebrating the 2020 Premier League trophy due to COVID-19 restrictions, ran through their full repertoire of songs as their team pushed for a fourth goal in the second half.
Top-scorer Salah scored the goal the crowd craved, collecting Szoboszlai’s pass before cutting in and blasting his shot into the bottom corner.
He celebrated by grabbing a fan’s phone before taking a selfie in front of the Kop.
Deafening cheers of “We’re going to win the league” and “We shall not be moved” rang out.
Liverpool had a fifth when Spurs defender Destiny Udogie poked the ball past his own goalkeeper from close range with about 20 minutes to go as the game turned into a procession.
As the game went into added time the club’s anthem rang out again as scarves were held aloft and the final whistle elicited a thunderous roar.
The win leaves Liverpool on 82 points, 15 clear of nearest challengers Arsenal with just four games remaining.
Tottenham are a miserable 16th in the Premier League table after their 19th defeat of the season, putting Postecoglou under enormous pressure.
Tens of thousands of fans swarmed around Anfield in the build-up to kick-off in anticipation of Liverpool’s coronation, setting off flares as the home team bus arrived.
Flags and scarves saying “Liverpool 20-time Champions” were on sale from stalls outside the ground.
At the start of the campaign, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were favorites to extend their dynastic Premier League reign and make it five titles in a row but their form collapsed.
Arsenal emerged as their closest challengers but they drew too many games, failing to take advantage of the rare Liverpool slip-ups.
It was feared Liverpool’s players would need time to adapt to the methods of Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp last June following the German’s departure after nine trophy-filled years at Anfield.
But the former Feyenoord boss has sailed serenely through the season despite relentless speculation over the futures of three of his biggest stars — Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Both Salah and Van Dijk have now signed two-year extensions, though England defender Alexander-Arnold is believed likely to be on the verge of a move to Real Madrid.


Barcelona beat Real Madrid in extra time to win Copa del Rey final

Updated 27 April 2025
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Barcelona beat Real Madrid in extra time to win Copa del Rey final

  • Barcelona will carry this momentum into Wednesday’s start of their Champions League semifinal series against Inter Milan
  • Barcelona have beaten Madrid in all three of the clasicos this season
  • King Felipe VI awarded the trophy to Barcelona, after the monarch flew back to Spain following his attendance at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican

SEVILLE, Spain: Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 in extra time to claim a record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title on Saturday and launch their bid for a treble.

Pedri Gonzalez scored from long range to give Barcelona the lead in the 28th minute at La Cartuja Stadium.

Kylian Mbappe came off the bench at halftime and scored from a free kick for Real Madrid in the 70th. Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni gave Madrid the lead with a header in the 77th.

But Ferran Torres leveled in the 84th and forced extra time.

Jules Kounde then pounced on a pass by Brahim Diaz and slotted a shot into the low corner of Thibaut Courtois’ net for the 116th-minute winner.

Barcelona will carry this momentum into Wednesday’s start of their Champions League semifinal series against Inter Milan. They also lead La Liga by four points over Madrid.

Barcelona have beaten Madrid in all three of the clasicos this season. They routed Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in January after winning 4-0 at Madrid in the local league in October.

“This was such a physically demanding game, but we showed that we are a great team that never gives up,” said Torres, who filled in perfectly for the injured Robert Lewandowski.

Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was shown a red card by the referee in the final minute of extra time.

The loss to their fierce rival was another blow to Madrid after they were knocked out of the Champions League quarterfinals by Arsenal.

This could have been their last title decider with Carlo Ancelotti in charge. The Italian coach said he will decide his future this summer amid speculation he is bound to take over Brazil.

King Felipe VI awarded the trophy to Barcelona, after the monarch flew back to Spain following his attendance at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican.

Barcelona dominate first half

One of the biggest rivalries in global soccer was again a tale of two halves — until Torres scored the late equalizer against the flow of play to renew Barcelona’s prospects.

Barcelona dominated the first half as it kept the action in Madrid’s half thanks to its ball control and pressure defense that was quick to recover the ball.

The only semblance of a Madrid attack came when Jude Bellingham was able to spin away from his marker and beat Barcelona’s pressure defense.

But a Bellingham pass intercepted by Pau Cubarsí cued Barcelona’s opener. Pedri lobbed forward for Yamal, breaking down the flank. The 17-year-old phenom — sporting a new dyed-blonde hairdo — threaded a pass back to the top of the box, where Pedri arrived to blast it home.

Raphinha went close to adding a second goal with some help by Rudiger when the Brazilian’s corker kick grazed the defender and hit the far post.

Mbappe sparks Madrid fightback

Mbappe started the game on the bench after injuring his ankle last week. But Ancelotti sent his striker on at halftime to replace Rodrygo. Luka Modric and playmaker Arda Guler soon followed.

The changes helped Madrid click, and the game became a back-and-forth contest with both teams creating scoring chances after Barcelona’s control was shattered.

Wojciech Szczesny had to protect Barcelona’s lead with three saves to deny Vinícius Junior and Mbappe. The goalkeeper could do nothing, however, to stop Mbappe after he earned a foul and fired a free kick low and just inside the post.

Tchouameni rose up to head in a corner kick that Guler curled into to the edge of the six-yard box.

Barcelona finish it off

Torres brought Barcelona back when Yamal put a long ball behind the defense and Courtois mistimed his run out to intercept it, leaving Torres with an open net.

Raphinha thought he had a penalty in the final minute of injury time after contact with Raul Asencio. But the referee, who the day before the final denounced a campaign to discredit him by Real Madrid’s official club television, waived off his initial decision after consulting video.

With several players clearly exhausted in extra time the game appeared destined to finish in a penalty shootout. But that was when Koundé became the hero for the Catalan club.


Al-Ahli down Buriram to set up all-Saudi Asian Champions League semi

Updated 26 April 2025
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Al-Ahli down Buriram to set up all-Saudi Asian Champions League semi

  • Strikes from Riyad Mahrez and Galeno gave Al-Ahli a two-goal lead by the sixth minute
  • “It was the perfect match,” said delighted Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle

JEDDAH: Al-Ahli handed Thailand’s Buriram United a 3-0 defeat in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League Elite in Jeddah on Saturday, with victory setting up an all-Saudi Pro League semifinal against Al-Hilal next Tuesday.
Strikes from Riyad Mahrez and Galeno gave Al-Ahli a two-goal lead by the sixth minute and Roberto Firmino added the third 15 minutes before the interval to complete a comfortable win at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
“It was the perfect match,” said delighted Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle. “We started with the incredible energy the fans were bringing in the stadium, it carried onto the pitch so we could score and score and score. That was something important to dominate the game.”


Al-Ahli, runners up in 1986 and 2012, will continue their quest for their first continental title against compatriots and four-times champions Al-Hilal, who handed South Korea’s Gwangju a 7-0 thrashing on Friday to progress to the last four.
Former Manchester City winger Mahrez put the home side in front after four minutes, showing composure to slide the ball into the bottom corner of Neil Etheridge’s goal after being found unmarked on the right by Firmino.
Two minutes later Al-Ahli doubled their advantage when Galeno drove into the penalty area from the left to meet Roger Ibanez’s defense-splitting pass from deep and push a clinical finish through the legs of the Buriram United goalkeeper.
In a frantic start, Buriram thought they had been given a lifeline when referee Ahmed Al-Kaf pointed to the spot as Merih Demiral brought Martin Boakye down. The penalty decision was overturned when the Omani consulted the pitchside monitor.
Despite that disappointment, Buriram appeared to have weathered the worst of the Al-Ahli pressure, only to concede a third in the 30th minute.
Mahrez’s corner was met by Demiral as he leapt virtually unchallenged on the edge of the six-yard box and Firmino pounced at the far post to push the Turkish defender’s header over the line from close range.
Al-Ahli goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was called upon to make a rare save in first-half injury time when he gathered Seksan Ratree’s header and, with a comfortable lead, the home side moved into cruise control after the break.
Saudi Arabia is hosting the latter stages of the Asian Champions League Elite with the quarter-finals, semis and final being played in Jeddah.
In the remaining last-eight ties, Saudi side Al-Nassr face Yokohama F Marinos from Japan on Saturday and Al-Sadd of Qatar meet J-League outfit Kawasaki Frontale on Sunday.
The semifinals will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday with the final on May 3.


Palace sweep past Villa to reach FA Cup final

Updated 26 April 2025
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Palace sweep past Villa to reach FA Cup final

  • Oliver Glasner’s side took the lead in the semifinal through Eze’s long-range blast
  • “All the credit to the players. They had to work so hard. They had to overcome a few difficult moments,” Glasner said

LONDON: Crystal Palace reached the FA Cup final for the first time in nine years as Ismaila Sarr’s double and a rocket from Eberechi Eze sealed a 3-0 win against Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday.
Oliver Glasner’s side took the lead in the semifinal through Eze’s long-range blast before Sarr netted twice in the second half.
In the final on May 17, Palace will face Nottingham Forest or Manchester City, who meet in the second semifinal on Sunday.
The Eagles have never won the FA Cup, losing their two final appearances against Manchester United in 2016 and 1990.
“All the credit to the players. They had to work so hard. They had to overcome a few difficult moments,” Glasner said.
“We got more control and it was an unbelievable performance. The players stuck to the plan and we never lost our heads.
“I don’t know at the moment how I feel — a bit exhausted. The players have four days off now. They should enjoy the moment.”
Villa, who last won the FA Cup in 1957, were hoping to make the final for the first time since 2015.
But Unai Emery’s team produced a dismal display and will have to settle for fighting to qualify for the Champions League via a top five finish in the Premier League.
“When they scored the first goal it was more difficult for us and we only reacted after 2-0 and then we created more chances to score and we didn’t do. In transition they are very good, and they deserve to win,” Emery said.
“Sorry to our supporters because they were motivated. We have to accept it. We have to be quick to react because in the league we have the most important objective.”
Jean-Philippe Mateta had the ball in the back of the net just before the half-hour mark, but it was chalked off after a VAR check confirmed the Palace striker had fouled Ezri Konsa in the build-up.
There was no such doubt about Eze’s opener, however, after Sarr got in the way of Pau Torres’ pass, then collected the resulting ricochet to the right of the Villa area.
Sarr found Eze and the midfielder curled a superb strike beyond the reach of Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Torres looked for an instant reply when he nodded just over the crossbar.
Konsa came closer, forcing Dean Henderson into a low save with a header of his own from a corner.
Villa piled on more pressure after the restart when Henderson made another fine save to deny John McGinn’s sharp volley, then Lucas Digne fired narrowly wide through a crowd of players.
Palace were awarded a 53rd-minute penalty after Eze was tugged down by Boubacar Kamara and Mateta stepped up to the spot after a VAR check, but his shot clipped the post and went wide.
Just as Villa started to gain momentum, Adam Wharton intercepted a pass and, after a quick touch from Mateta, Sarr fired into the bottom corner.
Henderson repelled a blast from Villa substitute Leon Bailey, moments after Mateta slid in to deny Ross Barkley.
Sarr nodded Eze’s cross off target, while Matty Cash’s attempt to claw a late goal back for Villa sailed wide.
Sarr put the seal on Palace’s impressive performance in stoppage-time, outpacing Konsa before slotting home to send the Eagles into the final.


Nice defender Abdelmonem sidelined with cruciate ligament tear

Updated 26 April 2025
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Nice defender Abdelmonem sidelined with cruciate ligament tear

  • “His injury will remain the dark cloud hanging over Nice’s victory in Paris over PSG,” Nice said
  • "Mohamed has suffered a cruciate ligament rupture”

PARIS: Egyptian defender Mohamed Abdelmonem suffered a cruciate ligament injury in his right knee during Nice’s 3-1 win over Ligue 1 leaders Paris St. Germain on Friday, the club said on Saturday.
“His injury will remain the dark cloud hanging over Nice’s victory in Paris over PSG. It was in the 63rd minute of the match at the Parc des Princes when Mohamed Abdelmonem collapsed in Nice’s penalty area,” Nice said in statement.


“The first images led us to fear that it was a serious injury. The various medical examinations carried out immediately after the match confirmed ... Mohamed has suffered a cruciate ligament rupture.
“OGC Nice dedicates the three points to him and will do everything possible to support him during his months of recovery so that he can return to the pitch even stronger.”
The victory lifted Nice to fourth in the standings with 54 points from 31 games.