Messages suggest Bin Salman key to Newcastle deal

Leaked WhatsApp messages from the former Newcastle United minority co-owner Amanda Staveley suggest that Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's crown prince, was heavily involved in the takeover of the club, it was reported yesterday.

- Louise Taylor

Staveley, who stepped down from Newcastle's board in July after selling her shares, brokered the £305m deal with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), helping it over the line in October 2021 after the Premier League received legally binding assurances of the separation of the Saudi state and the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund.

Given that Bin Salman is the chairman of PIF that raised eyebrows and yesterday the Telegraph published messages which suggested he was the key catalyst behind the purchase from the British retail tycoon Mike Ashley and spotlighted the extent of the UK government's involvement.

In one reported message Staveley cautions Ashley's camp that “the Crown Prince is losing patience” and another refers to attempts being made to “convince the Crown Prince not to pull out”. In another she writes: “The UK Saudi ambassador spoke to the Crown Prince this morning.”