West Ham United gained more Czech influence this week when billionaire Daniel Kretinsky purchased a 27 per cent stake in the football club. The move follows the club having three Czech internationals in the club’s first-team squad.
Kretinsky currently owns top-flight side Sparta Prague in his home country, so he is no stranger to business in the footballing world, but this stake in West Ham United is his first step into the top five leagues in the world.
Despite this being his first venture into English football, it is not his first time doing business in England, as he owns stakes in the Royal Mail and Sainsbury’s.
The deal itself is said to be with a view to a full takeover of the club, after an unspecified period of time. The initial stake purchased values the club at around £600 to £700 million.
Should the deal become a full takeover, it would end the decade long ownership of David Gold and David Sullivan, though that seems a long way off yet.
"A Czech-based billionaire is within days of agreeing the purchase of a big stake in West Ham United that could lead to a full takeover."
BREAKING: A Czech-based billionaire is within days of agreeing the purchase of a big stake in West Ham United that could lead to a full takeover.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 28, 2021
The move further extends the Czech influence on the Hammers, as the playing squad contains, Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal, both mainstays in the starting 11 and Alex Kral. All three a Czech Republic internationals, and strong parts of the team.
On the pitch, West Ham continued their good form beating Aston Villa 4-1 to solidify their place in the Premier League’s top four. David Moyes’s men put in a clinical performance, that saw them blow past their opponents at Villa Park and go three points clear of Manchester United in fifth place.
The change in ownership model will most likely have no impact on the pitch in the meantime but could result in significant investment in years to come.