Ex-Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has sold his 14.5% stake in the club to a firm co-owned by a Russian billionare.
The involvement of Alisher Usmanov, who paid £75m for the holding, adds to pressure on the club's board to give in to a takeover.
Mr Dein has been named chairman of the firm, Red & White Holdings, allowing him a way back into Arsenal.
He left the board after it failed to back his plan for the club to be taken over by American Stanley Kroenke.
Red & White said it felt it crucial that manager Arsene Wenger stayed at Arsenal as he was "vital to the future success of the club".
Mr Dein, a close ally of Mr Wenger, said the club needed people or consortia "prepared to invest previously unimaginable sums aimed at winning the game's biggest prizes".
He added was "delighted" to have found investors who shared his vision for the club.
"I have always had the best interests of Arsenal at heart. I've had a love affair with the club since I was six," he said.
WHO IS FARHAD MOSHIRI?
*Majority shareholder in Metalloinvest, a Russian mining and metallurgy firm
*Share portfolio includes holdings in Russian business newspaper Kommersant and mobile phone firm Megafon
*General Director of Gazprominvestholding, investment arm of Gazprom
*Heads the Russian and European Fencing Federations
So a rich russian wants to take over Arsenal with David Dein.
Good idea or bad idea - im still undecided?
4 comments:
and they dont want to take over, just invest. good news? or bad
Its good that the Russian Billionaire Alisher Usmanov is only gonna invest in Arsenal, because I don't want Arsenal to be taken over.
Also with DD selling his sshares to this russian, means that now there no way that Stan Kronke can launch a takeover.
Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has sold his 14.58% stake in the Gunners to Red and White, a company in which he will be the chairman.
Dein has re-emerged as a central figure in Arsenal's future.
Having stepped down in May following a disagreement with the rest of the board over the merits of encouraging a wealthy American investor, Dein has now sold his stake for £75million.
Red and White is jointly owned by Russian businessman, Alisher Usmanov, and Farhad Moshiri, a London-based investor. But Dein will become its chairman.
Funds have been committed to buy more Arsenal shares, although Dein insists there is no "current intention" to try to take over the entire club.
Red and White will seek a meeting with the Arsenal board and are keen to keep manager, Arsene Wenger.
Dein said: "Thursday's announcement marks a significant step towards realising the vision I share with thousands of fans at home and abroad of making Arsenal the world's number one football club.
"I have not lost my passion for the club; indeed, it is greater than ever. My ambition remains to play an active role in Arsenal again. My immediate intention is to work with others to provide the financial resources necessary to turn the vision of Arsenal as the world's number one club into reality."
Mr Moshiri is a London-based fund manager and the chairman of Russian mining company, Metalloinvest.
Usmanov, who has a box at Arsenal, is the majority shareholder of Metalloinvest and has media and telecoms holdings that include Russia's largest business newspaper and investment in a mobile phone company.
David Dein has outlined his vision to turn Arsenal into the world's number one football club.
Dein stepped down from the Arsenal board in April over a disagreement over plans to bring American investor Stan Kroenke's millions to the club.
Now, he has been appointed chairman of a company whose goal is to gain hold of a significant stake in the club's shareholding, with Dein having sold his 14.58% stake for £75million to the Red and White Holdings Ltd company.
Red and White is jointly owned by Russian businessman, Alisher Usmanov, and London-based investor, Farhad Moshiri, but has appointed Dein as its chairman.
Dein will spearhead plans to increase its stake in Arsenal, although he insists there is "no current intention to make a takeover offer".
Dein is a passionate supporter of current manager, Arsene Wenger, and Red and White intend to approach the Arsenal board to "explore areas of potential co-operation".
Dein said: "Today's announcement marks a significant step towards realising the vision I share with thousands of fans at home and abroad of making Arsenal the world's number one football club.
"I have not lost my passion for the club; indeed, it is greater than ever.
"I have been flattered by the generous offers I have received since April to work with other clubs, both in England and elsewhere.
"But there is only one club for David Dein and that is Arsenal.
"My ambition remains to play an active role in Arsenal again. My immediate intention is to work with others to provide the financial resources necessary to turn the vision into reality.
"To provide these financial resources, Arsenal need new investors. The reality is that football is changing dramatically. A growing number of clubs are being funded by individuals or consortia that are prepared to invest previously unimaginable sums aimed at winning the game's biggest prizes.
"I believe the board should welcome non-British involvement given the wealth of nationalities responsible for Arsenal's success on the pitch, including its manager.
"Without new investors, I feel very soon Arsenal might not be able to compete successfully at the very top level, despite the fantastic work of Arsene Wenger.
"I have maintained my close friendship with Arsene. I believe our professional partnership over many years was highly successful and beneficial for the club we both love.
"I hope it can be resumed. Meanwhile, I want Arsene to continue as manager and, indeed, I have encouraged him to sign a new contract."
Usmanov has a box at Arsenal and is the majority shareholder in the Russian mining company, Metalloinvest, as well as having investments in mobile phone and television companies and a gas firm.
Moshiri, who was born in Iran but is a UK citizen, is a London-based fund manager and business associate of Usmanov and is the chairman of Metalloinvest.
Dein would not go into any detail over his fall-out with the other board members at the end of last season and knows there will be speculation that Kroenke will be linked with the club once more.
He said: "Since April, I have deliberately kept my thoughts about Arsenal to myself. I have reflected on what best I should do in the future interests of the club.
"I've always had the best interests of Arsenal at heart - I have had a love affair with the club since I was six.
"I firmly believe the involvement of Red and White with a significant stake and the long-term commitment of Arsene Wenger are absolutely the best outcome for the club, fans and shareholders alike."
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