Morning all.
Arsenal FC have a potential buyer out there in Daniel Ek. Ek is a money making man and has been since the age of 13. Of course I’ve googled him. He along with another guy are behind the invention of Spotify and just recently, has left this tweet on Twitter:
As a kid growing up, I’ve cheered for Arsenal as long as I can remember. If KSE would like to sell Arsenal I’d be happy to throw my hat in the ring.
So who is he?
Ek is 38 years old, born in Sweden and according to Forbes, he’s worth $4.7 billion. Forbes value Arsenal around $2.8 billion, give or take a few pounds so he could certainly afford to buy Stan Kroenke out if the American decided to sell the club.
As far as Spotify goes, it’s value has only increased over the years. According to Wikipedia, in 2017 Spotify was valued at $16 billion, which would put Ek’s share at over $1.6 billion assuming he did not sell any of his stake although since then, the Spotify Enterprise Value has risen to over $58 billion.
In all seriousness though, is a wealth of $4.7 billion enough to finance a football club, especially when more than half that reported wealth would be spent on acquiring the shares?
Again using Forbes as a financial guide, here are the wealthiest owners of English football clubs.
- Roman Abramovich – $28 billion.
- Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan – $22 billion.
- Stan Kroenke – $8.2 billion.
- John W. Henry Tom Werner – $2.8 billion.
- The Glazer Family – $4.7 billion.
- Mike Ashley – $2.5 billion.
The answer to the question is he wealthy enough has to be yes. Ek isn’t as rich as either the Man City or Chelsea owners are but he’s on a par with the Glazer family and head and shoulders above the Liverpool owners. Mind you, so is Stan Kroenke but Ek maintains he’s an Arsenal fan so it’s likely he’ll have more determination to make the club successful than the American.
I think three of the ‘Super League’ club fans, want their owners out of the club. Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd certainly do. I’m not saying all but certainly a large percentage in my opinion.
Hypothetically, Arsenal FC has a saviour in Daniel Ek who at least comes from a country where football is football and not soccer. A country where football has mattered over the years for both club and country. The Swedish League might not be as competitive as the Premier League but that means little really. The very fact that Ek is a football fan who supports Arsenal has to be a good thing I think.
Reading this, would you like to see Daniel Ek buy Stan Kroenke out or would you rather it were someone else, someone far wealthier?
See you in the comments.
Hi Rico and all. From what I have herd Daniel Ek sounds ok but the main point would come down to how much Kroenke would want. if Ek is worth around 4.7 billion and Kroenke wanted 2 Billion as mention yesterday would EK be willing to blow half of his wealth in one deal and still be able to run the club.
It seems that Ek has more money than some of the other owners now but how much did they purchase their club for compared to what Arsenal is worth now
Ek and Kroenke ae both wealthy enough to run The Arsenal . The difference is how the club is run that is the real question.
Kroenke appears to run things to keep a stable system maintaining a financial security and recent events have shown that he likes the idea of the security that he has in his other enterprises.
Ek is an entrepeneur that started from scratch and has built his own empire.
Kroenke married into his and excuse the pun but he rides on the back of his wife’s family opening large retail developments around his sporting venues which always have a Walmart to bring the people in.
Ek is by his nature a risk taker more aligned to the pattern of sporting endeavour with it’s ability to win or lose as Sweden .has 4 divisions with promotion and relegation
Is his money enough to finance a club ? Does he have to ?, the club under normal circumstances is capable of financing itself. It generates money , it’s how that money is used that is important.
Morning Geoff, Potter and all.
I think he’s wealthy enough, Arsenal runs itself financially so I can’t see a problem.
I’m with you Potter, over the years it’s not always been about how much money has been spent but the way it’s been spent. Imo, transfers in and out along with contracts has been managed dreadfully over the last ten years or more.
Good morning Rico, sorry I jumped the gun earlier this morning. I didn’t realise how widely the story had spread.
As in the American Presidential elections when the cry was “anyone but Hillary” now the cry has become “anyone but Kroenke. I only know what I have read over the last few hours about Daniel Ek, but if he’s truly an Arsenal fan then he’s welcome to at least give it a go and buy out our greedy owners.
Morning All, thanks for the post Rico, I hope that Daniel Ek isn’t just looking for a bit handy publicity because I’d never heard of him before his Tweet had Tweeted and now all of a sudden he’s the saviour of our club!
I think that you are going to have to bid well in excess of $2b or is it £2b, if that’s what the club is worth, because you have to take into account the future increase in value of the club. Kroenke will know that Arsenal will gain in value over the next few years so you’ll need to pay him over and above our current value to tempt him to sell.
But that’s a long way off and Kroenke isn’t going to sell just because a few thousand Arsenal fans demonstrated outside the ground. I’ve only read it reported on an NBC website but it’s not going to be news in the States yet?
AST are in for a long slog and so are we, a couple of good signings in the summer and we won’t be talking about it anymore.
Imagine if by some miracle we win the EL and get into the CL, we won’t be discussing Stan then and that’s exactly how he likes it…
Kronor give EK the keys and let him drive the club forward. Your never around, money seems to be your main objective, sell at a profit and let Arsenal be run by Arsenal fans not US financiers. If you want to help Arsenal achieve the greatness this club deserves hand it over and leave us alone.
Morning Cicero, no need to apologise, I was just kidding you.
It’s certainly getting that way. Or ‘we don’t want the Americans’ in the PL.
Arsenal won’t gain financially if results don’t improve Kev and there’s no sign of that any time soon. Personally, I think if we lose to Emery’s lot, the return of the fans will no do Arteta any favours.
Honestly, I don’t think we have a hope in heck of winning the Europa Cup but boy I’d love to be wrong.
The forbes value of a person is a speculation of worth of saleable assets. Ek hasnt got 4bln sat in the bank he has an asset portfolio worth an est 4.7bln. Ek wouldnt use his own money to buy Arsenal, he would use his asset portfolio to get financial backing to buy the club. It like a property developer dont buy a house with your own money, pay the deposit using equity from previous projects and get bridging finance to pay the rest.
As a result of purchasing Ek’s forbes value would increase because Arsenal would become a saleable asset. He has the money or i should say he is fully able to get the money to buy Arsenal. As someone said thanks to Arsene’s work Arsenal are one of the most profitable clubs in the world. All we need our owner to do is stop taking their dividends and keeping it all to themselves and reinvest that in our playing staff.
I doubt anyone has £4billion dollars sat in the bank, so of course he’d have to sell some of his assets but as Kev says, is he serious or just another like the African who talks but never does.
In the present financial climate of ultra low interest rates he wouldn’t need to sell any assets, he could borrow against them instead, in the knowledge that they would continue to provide income which should be ample to offset the interest payments.
There you are, that’s why I’m a financial genius who drives a four year old Ford and buys my underwear in Primark. 😉
Stan will never sell why Arsenal are making money.
seems Stanley does not like his first name so maybe if there is another protest the fans should start calling him Enos or Stanley
Ha ha Cicero
There’s nothing wrong with Primark underpants Cicero I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the durability that they’ve shown around my person, it’s the t shirts I don’t rate, one wash and they’re fit for being a floor flannel.
Having said all, that M&S are still your best bet when it comes to your ‘smalls’…
Don’t you agree Rico…? 🤔
I’m a Calvin Klein girl Kev. 😂
I thought you might be Rico… 😄
Red of course Kev. 😜
Mine are redcurrant Rico……
How Tottenham aren’t losing 4-0 is one of life’s greatest mysteries?
Same players different manager same outcome. Another season without silverware. When will they get a pot for their empty trophy cabinet?
Good evening Rico and all
Spuds have lost?? Good. That has saved the day. And also the season as spuds have not won anything.
If and its a big IF we win the Europa Cup it would literally kill them to see us getting another cup.
What beats me up though is the mentality that even if we dont win so long as we make money everything’s ok. Its not. It should be the EVERYTHING that anyone who gets in through the door has in his own DNA.
Do all Fairy Tales begin with Once upon a time??
No…..some of them begin with ….. This is going to be Tottenham’s year.
Hang on…….this year finished with a 1. And they lived sadly ever after.,
Evening Devil. That should have been a spanking for the Toots, still, 1-0 still means a loss…
Not that we fans have much else to brag about these days..l
Devil, that’s why I rate Arteta and the job he’s doing.
He’s ridding the club of those players with the attitude that near enough is good enough, and trying to bring in a new culture.
This is a massive task and why I can’t understand people criticising him and wanting him gone.
Question his tactics, no issue, but he’s the long term answer, I am confident of that.
Good morning everyone
Scott….I am with you all the way. And like you cant understand why all the criticism. Because we know what he inherited. We know the squad he has at his disposal.
Granted he will make mistakes. We all do. But some of them beggars belief. Hindsight is a wonderful thing though.
Some of the decisions taken I cannot understand either. Why for example get Ceballos on loan when the same place could have gone to AMN and not send the latter on loan to WBA? Why not keep Willock and sign Willian? The only loan I accept (and mind you accept with reservations….unless we end up signing him permanently….the reason being because of him ESR has been shunted to the left.
We are were we are with Willian, Ceballos. The squad is unbalanced. Hopefully these issues will be addressed to in the coming summer.
Maybe certain players are happy to just collect their wages for this season already knowing fully well that next season they will not be here.
Glad were back talking about football for a moment then I thought I connected to the fan club of Are you being served
Can we get 20M each for AMN, Nketiah, Torreira and Guendouzi?? That would be 80M. How much Kolasinac would fetch?? Maybe 10M max.
I have read that Bellerin would be sold for 25M. And Maybe Elneny is sold as well.
I hope Willock is kept.
Most of all I simply hope that for once we make all the right decisions this time. And no faffing around. Because I am simply tired of bad decisions made by ARsenal
The Daniel Ek situation is expanding with Apparently Bergkamp , Henry and Vieira on board..
Going for the popular vote .
Scott and Devil I hope I am wrong about Arteta but I still believe that every person who wants to coach should do a couple of years as an assistant coach then coach say 2 or 3 years at a lower level to gain some experience and try different things out after all if you come last on the ladder on a smaller club you can try to build them back next season how ever if you fail at a premier league club not only have you cost the club money and possible some top players but there is a chance some idiot who calls him self a fan may take it out on you or your family or the players and there family for getting their team dropped to first division.
Potter who knows maybe the players you mentioned might even join Daniel EK and buy the club as a Syndicate
Geoff, I get your point and it makes sense, but who out there would you have chosen?
That’s the hard part.
Plenty will criticise the signing of Arteta, but most say we should’ve signed Ancelotti, Tuchel etc etc
Guys who, imo, NOT want the job of rebuilding a club.
Potter, listening to Robbie on AFTV now, excited about the news. He correctly says if Usanov couldn’t force a deal, it will be hard for anyone else. But with Henry, Vieira and Bergkamp onboard either investing or roles in running, with fan support it might be able to put pressure on a sale. Annoyingly he keeps saying he has news from highest source but can’t say who.
Scott we could have given Emery another six months then gone for Vieira who has coached for 4 or 5 years
Geoff, and be honest, what success has Vieira had to date?
Morning all.
I like the fact ex players are joining the ‘Kroenke out’ brigade. Not that I think it’ll make much difference. Yet.
In the future if Arteta leaves or does not work out then maybe I now he is not an Arsenal man but I would keep an eye on Vincent Kompany after all he has premier premier experience while at the same time he managed to keep a tight ship and respect from the other players he had around him at Man City and also he has experience of the Belgian league.
Not to mention that fact that Kompany and Arteta both learned from Pep.
Scott at 9:57pm forgot to mention Ange Postecoglou
Scott I am not bashing Arteta but it is a bit unfair to Vieira don’t you think after all Arteta record at the moment is not great we are sitting in 10th place and depending on Aston villa we could be 11th place and we don’t know what Vieira could have done to the team Arteta Got.
Geoff, it’s impossible to say how things would be with any manager, to be fair.
Ange-he’d succeed anywhere imo and I know most won’t know him, but he’s the best Aussie manager in history and by a long distance.
He’s killing it in Japan now.
Geoff….Vieira would not have done any different as he would still have the same players. If anything Vieira would have fared worse since Arteta stayed with Guardiola in the EPL while Vieira went to USA and France….totally a different kettle of fish to the EPL.
Devil, do you not think this squad should be getting better results than it’s been getting?
Let’s see what the AST come up with, once fans are allowed back into stadiums we might see some demos aimed at embarrassing KSE, just enough to concern sponsors etc.
Nothing is going to happen in the next few weeks or months, but Kroenke doesn’t enjoy bad publicity so if it’s aimed sensibly and respectfully then it can have an effect.
Yes Rico. The team should be getting better results. Imo this season we lost around 9-15 points due to us being to blame. Not because the other teams were better than us.
But although each and everyone must shoulder the blame, at the end of the day its the attitude of the players which is the biggest factor. Yes Arteta makes decisions and choices…..but he is not to blame if a player….Auba, Laca, etc fail to score with the goal at their mercy, or if Auba scores in the wrong net (Burnely) or if Leno makes the mother of all gaffes (vs Everton and also other mistakes) or if VAR/Ref makes the wrong decision.
I can guarantee that certain decisions at the Emirates would have been different had their been the crowd getting on the ref’s nerves.
Devil have I miss understood what you have said, you say Veira failed but yet he had a weaker team than Arteta has and you think we should have had more wins then we have there for my understanding is Arteta has failed more than Vieira because he has a better group of players. but again it brings me back to the first statement I made earlier that all coaches should learn to coach on their own in a smaller club or league.
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2021/04/26/folarin-balogun-signs-new-arsenal-contract-the-story-so-far-and-the-next-steps/#comment-285957
Good news that Balogun has signed a new deal. It opens the way for him to go out on loan for next season.
Willock wants to stay at Newcastle and they want to keep him. £20 million was the transfer fee reported.
A new word has been coined with Boris in mind, Testiculate Wave your arms about while talking bollocks.
That’s good news about Balogun as for Willock if we can get around 20 mill for him I would sell him so Arteta can use it to buy another defensive player.
Afternoon Rico and the4 House .
At last he has done it.
Flo has signed a long term contract ( untill2025)
Now Arteta and Edu give Taylor Hart one as well
Rick, I think they need to sort a contract out for Azeez this summer as well?
Me too Devil.
Afternoon Rick, all.
Excellent news re Balogun. I reckon he’s heading for the first team next season.
Before preferably re Azeez as his contract is up this summer.
The U23 ‘s are away to Leciester this evening in a very important game.
Win and we are safe from the drop lose and we are in the Mire.
No Balagun saved for Thurs.
6 u 18’s in and they are away to liverpool on friday Q/F youth cup.
Kev
Azeez signed 2year scholar Contract in 2019 and that ends in July.
He signed pro Forms when he was 17,
If it was 2year contract it is untill 2022, but if it was 3years its 2023.
The good point is after the end of his scholar contract he no longer has to do 20hrs in the class room each week and can do full time training.
This is how I see it and I think this is right.
I went on transfermarket Rick, they have his contract expiring in the summer. Hope you’re right though.
29 mins Coyle makes it 1-0
Balogun ok.
Do any of you know VilaReal? is an excellent team with some players from (ex) Valencia.
H/T We are winning 1-0
60 mins 1-1
Finished 1-1
“games to play both against West Ham
First game Friday night at Boring Wood
Its between them and us for the dropp.
That’s right Rico, that’s where I got the Azeez info from, hopefully Rick is right and they’re wrong, but I’d expect us to secure him anyway.
Leicester need to win their last two U23 games and they’ve got a double header vs Liverpool so we should be ok even if we fail to beat West Ham or even take a point against them.
Ex Valencia, what you mean the Valencia that Arsenal beat 4-1 in their own ground a couple of years ago?
Arsenal in talks over new contract with ESR. But will sell four players in the summer to finance purchases.
Morning all.
New post up now
https://highbury-house.com/2021/04/27/buzzing/
Just four Cicero?
Yes Kev, sometimes it’s good to be wrong.