Elland Road ownership transferred back to Leeds United

Leeds United has taken full ownership of its Elland Road stadium two decades after it was sold when the club faced financial trouble.

The stadium has been the Championship club’s home since 1919 and was purchased by Greenfield Investment Pte Ltd in 2017, which was part of the parent company which owned Leeds at the time.

In July 2023, 49ers Enterprises Global Football Group LLC took full control of the club and the stadium.

The ownership of Elland Road Limited was then transferred to Leeds United Football Club Limited on March 27 of this year.

“Whilst this may seem like only a subtle change in corporate structure, I know that our supporters will understand its broader significance in signalling our ownership’s intent that Leeds United and Elland Road should always be inextricably bound,” said Leeds United chief executive Angus Kinnear.

Elland Road was sold for just £8m in 2004 when the club faced a debt of around £30m, while the Thorp Arch training ground was also sold for a reported £4.2m.

The financial difficulty came after then chairman Peter Ridsdale took out large loans which were expected to be paid back with television rights and sponsorship revenues that came with qualification to the Champions League.

However, the club failed to qualify for the UEFA competition in two successive seasons and as a result did not receive enough income to repay the loans.

Leeds ended up playing three seasons of third division football as a result but managed to climb back up into the Premier League for the 2020-21 campaign.

The stadium is listed as an Asset of Community Value having been formally approved by Leeds City Council following an application by the Leeds United Supporters’ Trust.

The listing means that if the stadium and its land go up for sale in the future then the local community would be given the chance to bid.

The Trust has welcomed the transfer of ownership.

“This is a really positive step by the club and good news for fans,” read a statement from the organisation.

“As the club rightly points out, Leeds United and Elland Road should always be bound. Our home is a key part of our heritage and identity and something we will always stand up to protect. We are delighted that Elland Road has been brought back into the ownership structure of the club, and alongside the Asset of Community Value status this provides an extra layer of protection against sale, leverage or anything that would impact the future of the stadium.”