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Newcastle United takeover confirmed: Live updates as £305m deal with Saudi-backed consortium finalised

The Premier League has finally approved Mike Ashley's sale of Newcastle United and claimed it has legally-binding assurances that Saudi Arabia's rulers will not interfere.

Following weeks of secret negotiations, top tier lawyers signed off the most controversial club takeover in English football history. The £305 million deal hands Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund an 80 per cent controlling stake, with the London-based Reuben brothers paying for a 10 per cent stake, and broker, Amanda Staveley, receiving 10 per cent for her role in setting up the deal. The PIF's chairman is Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman, yet Premier League chiefs claim they have now received guarantees that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not be running the club.

League officials have denied the breakthrough for Middle East rights holder BeIN Sports in getting their signal broadcast in Saudi played a key role in lawyers waving through the deal.

Instead, the improvement in relations between Saudi and BeIN has been cited as a "consequence" rather than a "cause" of the takeover. The league's decision has outraged human rights campaigners, but has largely delighted Newcastle fans after years of turmoil around moves by Ashley, the Sports Direct owner, to offload the club.

Follow live updates below...


08:06 PM

Key players: Who will rule the boardroom?


07:57 PM

'This is an issue for football to resolve'

Amid the outcry from Amnesty International and UK-based campaign group Fair Game, Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston has said it is for football authorities to legislate on the qualifications of prospective new owners based on the systems they already have in place.

"This is a matter for football to decide, following the protocols they've got in place including proper implementation of the owners and directors test.

"One of the aspects of the fan-led review into football governance is all of these elements. I don't want to prejudge what Tracey (Crouch) may recommend, we'll be getting the full details going forward.

"We wouldn't be having a review of football governance if we thought everything was perfect. But in any acquisition I would expect the Premier League to go through due process.

"I keep an eye on it. We have an ongoing dialogue with the Premier League about a whole range of things. But football needs to look after itself and this is an issue for football to resolve. At the end of the day it's an acquisition made by private entities."


07:48 PM

'Bitter blow for human rights defenders'

Newcastle's takeover by a Saudi-led consortium is "an extremely bitter blow for human rights defenders", claims Amnesty International UK.

"We can understand that this will be seen as a great day by many Newcastle United fans.

"But it's also a very worrying day for anyone who cares about the ownership of English football clubs and whether these great clubs are being used to sportswash human rights abuse.

"In our assessment, this deal was always more about sportswashing than it was about football, with Saudi Arabia's aggressive move into sport as a vehicle for image-management and PR plain for all to see.

"This will be an extremely bitter blow for human rights defenders and others suffering persecution in Saudi Arabia who will be well aware that this takeover is partly about diverting attention from their plight.

"Our call on the Premier League remains the same - it urgently needs to strengthen its owners' and directors' rules to make them human rights-compliant and prevent those implicated in serious human rights violations from buying their way into English football."


07:45 PM

Newcastle fans partying long into the night


07:18 PM

Revealed: McParland a candidate to be Newcastle's new sporting director

By James Ducker

Frank McParland is one of the candidates in the running to become Newcastle United’s new sporting director.

McParland, 63, has previously held similar roles at Brentford, Burnley and Rangers and is understood to be one of the names under consideration by Newcastle’s new owners.

Formerly chief scout and academy director at Liverpool before joining Brentford in 2013, he spent 18 months as director of football at the London club until a move to Burnley.

McParland was at Turf Moor for five months as sporting director before taking the decision to move to Rangers to team up with manager Mark Warburton, with whom he worked at Brentford.

He left Rangers with Warburton in 2017 and the pair joined forces again at Nottingham Forest.

More recently, McParland has been doing football consultancy work.


07:01 PM

Steve Bruce exclusive: 'I know I may be sacked at Newcastle - but I won't be bitter'

Read Luke Edwards' exclusive interview with Newcastle manager Steve Bruce as he reveals:

"I want to continue, I'd like the chance to show the new owners what I can do, but you have to be realistic and they may well want a new manager to launch things for them. New owners normally want a new manager. I've been around long enough to understand that.

"That decision is not up to me. I accept that and I will accept what comes my way. I have to wait to have those conversations with people when the time is right.

"If I don't make it to a 1,000 games against Spurs, you might say that could only happen to me, but I don't think it would be cruel. It's just football."

To read the full exclusive interview, click here


06:27 PM

'This is sportswashing pure and simple'

Campaign group Fair Game, which has called for the reform of football, has claimed Newcastle's new owners "are not fit and proper" and that the club's "proud" history has been "hijacked".

Fair Game's director of advocacy Mike Baker said: "This is sportswashing pure and simple.

"Our line is simple. If you have conducted any activity in the last 10 years that would have broken the law in the UK then you are not fit and proper to be an owner of a football club.

"Newcastle United has a long, proud history. Today that history has been hijacked by a country with a serious international image problem. A nation that executes journalists and treats women horrendously.

"If the Premier League believes that the Saudi Government is fit and proper, then frankly they have just made the case for an independent regulator even stronger."


06:18 PM

Contenders to be next Newcastle boss... if Bruce goes

Left to right: Antonio Conte, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Arsene Wenger are all in contention

With the takeover of Newcastle United complete, talk is now turning to whether Steve Bruce will keep his job - and who could replace him.

Antonio Conte is one of the few elite managers currently available. Would Rafa Benitez be tempted back? Steven Gerrard is a young British manager doing well...

Luke Edwards runs the rule over the main contenders here


05:55 PM

'You're the greatest fans in the world'


05:38 PM

What of Steve Bruce's future?

Staveley has revealed she's spoken to Bruce and club captain Jamaal Lascelles - but says she has made no decision on Bruce's future.


05:22 PM

Another Premier League club in foreign hands

Following Newcastle's takeover, three-quarters of Premier League clubs now have foreign owners

Premier League clubs in foreign hands
Premier League clubs in foreign hands

05:17 PM

Reaction from Newcastle players, past and present


05:13 PM

'The first real hope for many years'

Newcastle United Supporters Trust has reacted to the club takeover by saying a "resounding" 96.7 per cent of members had wanted the consortium to take control.

NUST said in an open letter posted on Twitter that "for the first time in many years" fans felt the new owners could help Newcastle realise their full potential.

The letter read: "For the first time in many years we believe our desire for an ambitious Newcastle United that strives to be the best it can be can be a reality under your ownership.

"We admire your desire and tenacity to buy our football club despite the protracted issues with the Premier League, and we appreciate your clear understanding of the special place that Newcastle United holds in our communities, the passion of our supporters and your commitment to developing Newcastle United."

NUST said it was excited at the prospect of a partnership "between supporters and owners that will bring with it the first real hope for many years".

The fans' group's letter continued: "We look forward to learning more details of your plans for Newcastle United and I can assure you that our members will welcome you to Newcastle United.

"In April 2020 we asked our members if they were in favour of your takeover bid with a resounding 96.7 per cent in agreement."

NUST added: "We look forward to working with you to rejuvenate one of the greatest football clubs in England and I would like to extend an invitation to you to meet with the Board and I in the coming weeks."


05:09 PM

14 years of misery: How Ashley almost broke Newcastle

Our north east football writer, Luke Edwards, who has been on top of this takeover from the beginning, has had his say on the now ex-owner Mike Ashley...

Ashley was a terrible owner of Newcastle United. A stubborn, small-minded, petulant individual who bound a football club in chains of mediocrity and slowly drained its dreams.

Newcastle is a place where hope matters; the hope things will get better, the hope of excitement on a matchday, the hope the team will make the city proud, the hope it can compete with the best, the hope that, one day, the most infamous trophy drought in English football - 52 years and counting - will come to an end.

Ashley crushed that. Under his stewardship, any hope of Newcastle once again standing shoulder to shoulder with the elite in the league was extinguished, and he was happy for his managers to send out under-strength teams in the cups. It seemed like anyone who believed Newcastle were a big club with the potential to challenge for honours had no place in the cold, hard reality he had brought to Tyneside.

To read the full article, click here


05:05 PM

"We are here to invest, we are patient"

Amanda Staveley has spoken outside the hotel (Jesmond Dene Hotel) where the deal took place:

"I feel fantastic, really really proud. It's been a long time coming.

"I know everyone has got a lot of question about managers, players, but right know we just want to get inside and do a review of the business and we are going to let you all know the plans.

"We are here to invest, we are patient. PIF is an autonomous, commercially-driven investment fund and we are here to make sure we become the best custodians of this club that we can be.

"You are the best fans, the greatest fans in the world, you deserve this."


04:47 PM

Newcastle 12/1 to be champions in next five years

With Newcastle under new ownership, William Hill make them 12/1 to win the Premier League title within the next five years.

The Magpies are expected to be backed financially and they are 6/1 to break the world transfer record (£199.8m) by the end of December 2025, while they are 10/1 to break the £100m British record Manchester City spent on Jack Grealish in next summer’s transfer window.

Steve Bruce might be the one to suffer with the new regime, with the current manager 3/1 to still be at the helm on Christmas Day this year, with the 60 year-old 20/1 to remain in charge on the first day of next season.


04:45 PM

Where the 'magic' happened


04:43 PM

Newcastle supporters celebrate the news

Newcastle United supporters celebrate - AP
Newcastle United supporters celebrate - AP

And here's the husband of Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi (right), with businessman Jamie Reuben looking very pleased with himself after Newcastle announced the takeover

Mehrdad Ghodoussi (right) and Jamie Reuben at Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle - PA
Mehrdad Ghodoussi (right) and Jamie Reuben at Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle - PA

04:32 PM

PIF, Staveley and Reuben statements...

Newcastle and Riyadh:

“An investment group led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and also comprising PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media (the “Investment Group”), has completed the acquisition of 100% of Newcastle United Limited and Newcastle United Football Club Limited (“Newcastle United” or the “Club”) from St. James Holdings Limited. All requisite approvals have been obtained from the English Premier League and the acquisition was completed on 7 October 2021.

“The Investment Group is comprised of long-term, patient investors who have every confidence in the future success of the Club. Today’s announcement is the conclusion of a thorough and detailed process that has allowed the Investment Group to arrive at a deal that benefits all stakeholders and will leave Newcastle United well-placed to pursue a clear, long-term strategy.

“His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of PIF, will serve as Non-Executive Chairman of Newcastle United. Amanda Staveley, chief executive of PCP Capital Partners, will have one seat on the board. Jamie Reuben will also be a director of the Club, representing RB Sports & Media.

“For PIF, one of the world’s most impactful investors, the acquisition is in line with its strategy of focusing on key sectors including Sports and Entertainment, and aligns with PIF’s mission to actively invest over the long term – in this case, to harness the Club’s potential and build upon the Club’s legacy.”

Commenting on the agreement, His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of PIF:

“We are extremely proud to become the new owners of Newcastle United, one of the most famous clubs in English football. We thank the Newcastle fans for their tremendously loyal support over the years and we are excited to work together with them.”

Amanda Staveley, Chief Executive Officer of PCP Capital Partners:

“This is a long-term investment. We are excited about the future prospects for Newcastle United. We intend to instill a united philosophy across the Club, establish a clear purpose, and help provide leadership that will allow Newcastle United to go on to big achievements over the long term.

“Our ambition is aligned with the fans – to create a consistently successful team that’s regularly competing for major trophies and generates pride across the globe.”

Jamie Reuben of RB Sports & Media:

“We look forward to a great future for Newcastle United. Newcastle is a fantastic city, which is why our family has been investing heavily in the area for many years. To become part of this great Club and its amazing fans is a privilege.

“We will build a true community Club, based upon our family’s knowledge of the city and in line with our plans that have been worked on closely with Newcastle City Council to deliver long-term sustainable growth for the area.

“The directors of the Investment Group thank Mike Ashley for his commitment to the sale process. We would also like to thank the Premier League for its contribution in the regulatory process, which has helped lead to completion of this deal.”


04:27 PM

Official statement from Newcastle


04:26 PM

The new men, and woman, in charge of Newcastle

After finally satisfying the league that there will be no state interference, there may be raised eyebrows that Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the PIF, is expected to be named the new chairman. Amanda Staveley and Jamie Reuben, the son of David Reuben, who was previously a director of Queens Park Rangers before stepping down last year and is a keen sports fan, will also join the board. Staveley's company, PCP, will be awarded the management contract to take over the day-to-day running of Newcastle.


04:21 PM

Premier League statement...

The Premier League, Newcastle United Football Club and St James Holdings Limited have today settled the dispute over the takeover of the club by the consortium of PIF, PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media. Following the completion of the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test, the club has been sold to the consortium with immediate effect.

The legal disputes concerned which entities would own and/or have the ability to control the club following the takeover. All parties have agreed the settlement is necessary to end the long uncertainty for fans over the club’s ownership. The Premier League has now received legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control Newcastle United Football Club.

All parties are pleased to have concluded this process which gives certainty and clarity to Newcastle United Football Club and their fans.


04:12 PM

'Entering a new world'


04:07 PM

Literally minutes away...


03:49 PM

Huge news!

The shares of St James' Holdings (Ashley) have been transferred to the consortium (PIF), as has the money from the consortium to Ashley. Now it is just a case of waiting for the official statement.


03:36 PM

Tick tock, tick tock

Lots of noise about a delay due to red tape, and 'imminent' turning into 'in the next 24 hours'. Local police are out and about re crowd control as it starts to get dark outside St James'. Media are being assured the deal will go ahead, especially after the Premier League received legally-binding assurances from KSA guaranteeing “separation” and that it will not control Newcastle United.


03:02 PM

Red tape hold-up

The BBC's Dan Roan has suggested the legal process and exchanging of critical documents is behind the last-minute hold-up in confirmation of the Saudi takeover… but he is assured it remains imminent.


02:58 PM

'Setting Newcastle apart would be hypocrisy'

Stan Collymore has entered the debate over the rights and wrongs of the Saudis buying Newcastle. Do you agree with him?


02:39 PM

'We don't demand a team that wins, we demand a club that tries'


02:37 PM

It's getting crowded outside St James'

Newcastle fans are gathering in anticipation...


02:21 PM

The complex relationship between Saudi Arabia and UAE that could soon shape the Premier League

'Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed share a surprising bond but Saudi owners might not be everything Newcastle fans dream of...'

Read our special report on the 'Gulf battle' here


02:06 PM

Fans are beginning to arrive at St James' Park

Newcastle United takeover live Saudi buyers announcement latest updates - AP
Newcastle United takeover live Saudi buyers announcement latest updates - AP

01:36 PM

'In a sport awash with awful characters, Saudi Arabia represents a new low'

Anybody horrified by the Saudis’ capture of Newcastle United risks running headlong into hostility from the club’s long-suffering fans. All demand to know why the same moral indignation is not reserved for Manchester City acting as a shop front for the United Arab Emirates, or for Paris St Germain’s role as a convenient conduit for Qatari soft power.

The key difference, surely, is that while both those regimes have fallen short on multiple Amnesty International metrics, neither sanctioned the murder and dismemberment of a journalist just three years ago this week.

Read Oliver Brown's comment piece here.


01:18 PM

Former Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas reacts

I left that football club and we played Champions League football. We were in Europe on a regular basis and had Bobby Robson at the helm challenging for titles with top players coming to the football club on a regular basis.

Then they just became a mediocre team that was quite happy to go down, quite happy to get promoted, quite happy to finish in 15th and that's not what Newcastle fans want. It's not what they deserve.

It's what they were given so if this money can come into the football club, that football club can go back to those great days of what they'd become. That club is one of the biggest clubs in this country. They're one of the great teams and have one of the best a biggest fanbases and they deserve more than what they've been getting so fingers crossed it gets over the line.


12:44 PM

Former Newcastle striker Louis Saha reacts

Every fan dreams about having a super, super wealthy chairman to get the best players. It is easy to see why the fans were frustrated.

I’m looking forward to it, I hope it brings stability and success that this club deserves. It is a dream for fans, expect changes and better players.


12:21 PM

It's the afternoon now but their point still stands!


12:04 PM

Latest from Chief Football Correspondent Jason Burt and Chief Football Writer Sam Wallace

Yasir Al-Rumayyan is expected to be named the new chairman of Newcastle United when the £305million Saudi Arabian-led takeover of the club is finally announced.

Al-Rumayyan, 51, heads PIF, which is chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman and has assets of around £300billion, meaning it is regarded as the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund.

Through PIF investments Al-Rumayyan sits on the boards of Uber, SoftBank Group and Reliance Industries which is the largest publically traded company in India. He is also on the board of Saudi Aramco, the state oil company.


11:52 AM

Would Conte come to Newcastle?


11:34 AM

Breaking news update from Sports News Correspondent Tom Morgan


11:13 AM

It's getting closer...

Newcastle have sent an email to its supporters calling on them to get their 2021/22 shirts today with the title: 'A new start. A new better'.

Is that a cheeky hint?


10:46 AM

Former Newcastle defender Warren Barton reacts

The excitement, the relief and the pride can all be sensed in the fans thinking they’re going to get their club back. It’s been a long, long time since they felt the club cared for them as much as they care for the club.

I’ve been on social media reaching out to people and I’ve had people crying saying all they’ve known is the time of Mike Ashley. All this fan base and city have always wanted is respect that it deserves and they haven’t had that.

There’s so much hope so everybody’s keeping their fingers crossed that it goes through because the fans and the city deserve it.


10:21 AM

What's on the website


10:05 AM

How things stand at 11am

Telegraph Sport understands the takeover of Newcastle is set to be completed today with an announcement expected.

The official Newcastle Twitter account hasn't tweeted anything since 12:03pm on Wednesday. Presumably, their next tweet will be a statement confirming the deal.


09:51 AM

What happens to Steve Bruce now?

19th in the Premier League table. No wins win, four defeats, 16 goals conceded. A low approval rating among fans.

Should Bruce continue as manager should the takeover go through?

Newcastle United takeover live: Announcement to come today as Jason Wilcox targeted for role - latest updates - PA
Newcastle United takeover live: Announcement to come today as Jason Wilcox targeted for role - latest updates - PA

09:34 AM

Newcastle's next game? Tottenham at St James' Park on October 17.

The stadium will be rocking should the takeover go through.

Newcastle United takeover live: Announcement to come today as Jason Wilcox targeted for a role - latest updates - GETTY IMAGES
Newcastle United takeover live: Announcement to come today as Jason Wilcox targeted for a role - latest updates - GETTY IMAGES

09:19 AM

Latest from Chief Football Correspondent Jason Burt


09:04 AM

How will Mike Ashley be remembered?

History is unlikely to be kind to Ashley. Many Newcastle fans are delighted at the prospect of his departure after 14 years at the club.

Does he deserve some slack? How happy are you to see him leave? Let us know in the comments section below!

Newcastle United takeover live: Announcement to come today as Jason Wilcox targeted for role - latest updates - PA
Newcastle United takeover live: Announcement to come today as Jason Wilcox targeted for role - latest updates - PA

08:40 AM

'The Premier League needs to better understand the dynamic of sportswashing and tighten its ownership rules'

Amnesty International chief executive Sacha Deshmukh has urged the Premier League to consider Saudi Arabia's human rights record again after the settling of a commercial dispute appeared to clear the way for a Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle.

Instead of allowing those implicated in serious human rights violations to walk into English football simply because they have deep pockets, we've urged the Premier League to change their owners' and directors' test to address human rights issues.

Ever since this deal was first talked about we said it represented a clear attempt by the Saudi authorities to sportswash their appalling human rights record with the glamour of top-flight football. Saudi ownership of St James' Park was always as much about image management for Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and his government as it was about football.

Under Mohammed Bin Salman, the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia remains dire - with government critics, women's rights campaigners, Shia activists and human defenders still being harassed and jailed, often after blatantly unfair trials.

The closed-door trial of Jamal Khashoggi's alleged killers was widely perceived to be a part of a wider whitewash by the authorities, and Saudi Arabia is accused of a catalogue of crimes under international humanitarian law during the long conflict in Yemen.

The phrase 'human rights' doesn't even appear in the (Premier League's) owners' and directors' test despite English football supposedly adhering to FIFA standards. We've sent the Premier League a suggested new human rights-compliant test and we reiterate our call on them to overhaul their standards on this.

As with Formula One, elite boxing, golf or tennis, an association with top-tier football is a very attractive means of rebranding a country or person with a tarnished reputation. The Premier League needs to better understand the dynamic of sportswashing and tighten its ownership rules.


08:21 AM

Latest by Luke Edwards

The confirmation of PIF’s takeover of Newcastle United is now certain to come later today.

It is understood the Premier League will state that the reason it has been allowed to go through is that they have been assured the State of Saudi Arabia will not be running the club, merely the country’s Public Investment Fund along with financier Amanda Staveley and the Reuben family.


08:19 AM

Exclusive by Sports News Correspondent Tom Morgan

Hatice Cengiz, whose fiancee Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Turkish embassy, says the Saudi takeover deal is sportswashing and launched an impassioned 11th hour plea to stop the Premier League "caving in"

She said: "Only a few days after the third anniversary of Jamal’s murder, it is horrifying to learn that the Crown Prince is on the brink of getting what he wants: to wash his reputation, and sully the name of sports."

Read more here.

Hatice Cengiz - GETTY IMAGES
Hatice Cengiz - GETTY IMAGES

08:06 AM

'This is Newcastle's Man City moment - but expect organic growth not statement signings'

At last, it seems, Project Zebra is happening. The takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Arabian-backed bidders is suddenly back on and the landscape of the Premier League might just be about to shift again. Project Zebra was the code name given to the takeover almost two years ago when it was hoped the deal, then valued at £340 million, would be completed in time for the January transfer window – the one in 2020, not 2022.

Read Jason Burt's comment piece here.


07:52 AM

Looks like Allan Saint-Maximin has seen the news...


07:39 AM

EXCLUSIVE by Chief Football Writer Sam Wallace

Newcastle United’s prospective new owners are considering a move to appoint a sporting director, with Jason Wilcox, the Manchester City academy director, among those considered a suitable candidate for the newly-created job.

The former England international who had a good playing career chiefly at Blackburn Rovers, as well as at Leeds United and Leicester City, has become a key figure in the modern City, heading their drive to create one of the most successful development programmes in world football. He would be a major loss to the Premier League champions.

Wilcox, who won three caps for England under Terry Venables and was a Premier League title winner with Blackburn, has been at the heart of City’s drive to recruit and develop the best players in Britain and further afield.


07:30 AM

What does this mean for the Premier League?

Our Sport News Correspondent Tom Morgan has a detailed Q&A with everything you need to know about the takeover and writes:

Waving through this deal will rest heavily on the shoulders of Richard Masters, the top tier's chief executive. A state effectively sabotaging the league's contract with BeIN Sports never had a chance of taking control of one of his clubs. Now, however, Masters appears on the brink of conceding there is nothing he can do to block the sale.

Read more here.

Newcastle United takeover live: Saudi buyers edge closer to announcement - latest updates - GETTY IMAGES
Newcastle United takeover live: Saudi buyers edge closer to announcement - latest updates - GETTY IMAGES

07:18 AM

Latest update from Telegraph Sport's Luke Edwards


07:07 AM

Who are the key players?


06:52 AM

Zidane as manager. Mbappe and Haaland up front.

It is meant to be!

Newcastle United takeover live Saudi buyers announcement latest updates - REUTERS
Newcastle United takeover live Saudi buyers announcement latest updates - REUTERS

06:42 AM

Good morning

Hello and welcome to a potentially seismic day for Newcastle United Football Club.

Telegraph Sport understands that a takeover of the club by a Saudi Arabian-financed consortium is on the brink of being sealed. News of a potential breakthrough in a saga which has been ongoing since April last year arrived when it emerged Saudi Arabia had indicated it would lift its ban on broadcaster beIN SPORTS.

The Qatari network has been unable to broadcast in Saudi Arabia for the last four-and-a-half years as part of a diplomatic dispute, but the ban is set to come to an end.

Following secret negotiations that had been going on for weeks, Premier League lawyers were understood to have been working frantically to finalise the takeover in the hope of making an official announcement today. Owner Mike Ashley is set to net around £305 million from the deal and bring an end to 14 years of control at the club.

The deal would entail Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund taking an 80 per cent controlling stake, with the London-based Reuben brothers paying for a 10 per cent stake, and the broker, Amanda Staveley, receiving 10 per cent for her role in setting up the deal.

The alleged piracy was one of the major stumbling blocks and the removal of that problem appears to have helped to resolve the other, the issue of the separation between the PIF and the Saudi state.

But the deal has been criticised on the grounds of Saudi Arabia's controversial human rights record with Amnesty International previously warning the Premier League against becoming a "patsy" for Saudi attempts to sportswash its image.

Saudi Arabian officials, who have maintained for months that BeIN’s signals were not blocked, were contacted by Telegraph Sport, but were unable immediately to verify the claim that its dispute with BeIN had been settled.

Stay with us for all the latest news and developments throughout the day.