Bristol City takeover latest: fresh update, ownership stance and Turki Alalshikh estimated net worth
Things are looking bright on and off the pitch for Bristol City
It has been a bright start to life for Gerhard Struber at Bristol City, who have taken their place of one of the early pace-setters in the Championship.
A comfortable 3-0 win away at financially-stricken Sheffield Wednesday ensured that the Robins rose up to third in the league, just two points off leaders Middlesbrough and boasting records as the second-highest scorers and joint-highest goal difference in the league. Alongside Middlesbrough and goalscoring rivals Coventry City, Struber’s men are also one of just three unbeaten sides left in the division.
Bristol City’s strong start also comes in the context that several big hitters are struggling. Ipswich Town won their first game of the season over the weekend, at the hands of Sheffield United - who sit rock bottom. Southampton are also 15th, while big-spending Birmingham City sit 11th.
There is a long way to go but optimism will be building at Ashton Gate that the Robins can give things a real good go this season, as they aim to reach the Premier League for the very first time.
Bristol City takeover news amid latest rumours
According to Football League World, a takeover bid could be imminent from Saudi boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh, who is said to be keen on buying the Robins and could attempt to take the club off the hands of the Lansdown family with a lucrative offer.
Alalshikh is reportedly keen on buying an English football club and has his eyes on the West Country outfit, following previous reports of interest over the summer. The team’s start to the season on the pitch will only have encouraged him on making the investment.
The 44-year-old has an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion (£2.06b) as per Marca, and is the Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, in control of some of the boxing world’s biggest fights. He has previous in football ownership, too, having been the owner of Spanish club Almería for six years from 2019 until May of this year, when Saudi investment consortium SMC Group took over. Alalshikh also owned Egyptian club Pyramids from 2018 to 2019.
Lansdown family ‘stance’ or a potential sales
The Lansdowns have owned Bristol City since 2002 and have given little recent indication they are keen on selling the club. Steve Lansdown told BBC Sport in February 2025 that the Robins are “not close” to a takeover or new investment, coming after he claimed in 2022 that he was open to selling the club for the right price.
Lansdown has invested around £280 million in the club and is believed only to want to sell to the right person as he looks to ensure the long term health of Bristol City, pointing to other clubs who have been “leveraged” and almost went bust.
There are also potential stumbling blocks to future investment. Firstly, the club is part of the Bristol Sport group, which includes men’s and women’s teams across football, rugby union and basketball. Purchasing the club would entail either purchasing the group as a whole or separating the club from it.
Furthermore, considering Bristol City’s recent progress on the pitch, it may appear a risky time to sell the club with its value primed to skyrocket to a new level if promotion is achieved. Having spent more than 20 years building the club up, Lansdown will be wary of selling now and allowing someone else to take credit for its rise. This is certainly a story to look out for over the coming weeks and months.