Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan has reportedly turned his attention to Derby County in a potential takeover bid.
REPORT: Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan Interested in Derby County Takeover
Derby County Target for Derventio Holdings
According to Matt Slater of The Athletic, Sheikh Khaled is interested in a potential Derby County takeover. He previously failed with his Newcastle United bid, as well as a Liverpool bid back in 2018.
Derbyshire Live claims that the takeover could be completed as early as next week.
The name of the group is significant; Derventio was a Roman town which eventually becomes modern-day Derby.
Slater reveals that Derventio Holdings:
“was registered at Companies House, the UK’s registrar of companies, with three directors: Bin Zayed Group managing director Midhat Kamil Kidwai and two Swiss-based British entrepreneurs, Andrew Obolensky and Christopher Samuelson. Sheikh Khaled is listed as a “person with significant control”.”
Mel Morris, current owner of Derby County has previously spoken about his intentions to open up investment into the club:
“We’ve never been aggressive in trying to find investment. We’ve said to people that we’re open to offers to come in and invest,” he said.
“That’s a tough decision for us, because we’re building something here and therefore we have to have someone who wants to come and support that, or if someone wanted to take me out of that, someone who is going to continue that.
Sheikh Khaled
Sheikh Khaled is a senior member of the Abu Dhabi royal family; he is the cousin of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour.
He established the Bin Zayed Group in 1988 and has become one of the most successful businessmen in the Middle East.
After his previous bids have failed for Liverpool and Newcastle, he still wishes to pursue his desire to get involved with football.
Derby Seek Promotion Once Again
Since 2008, Derby County have played in the Championship, after a longer spell in the Premier League between 1996-2002. The North Midlands club have challenged on multiple occasions for promotion; they have reached four league playoff places in the last eight years. Out of four attempts, they lost in the final twice and the semi-finals twice.
Fans would love to see their club back in the Premier League and a new injection of finance could bolster their club’s chances.
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