The landscape of English football is shifting beneath the feet of its oldest clubs, and nowhere is this more evident than at Preston North End. Once crowned the inaugural 'Invincibles' of English football in 1888-89, Preston North End’s journey has been a rollercoaster ride through the highs of historic triumph and the lows of relegation battles. Now, as the club navigates its twelfth consecutive year in the EFL Championship, a new chapter may be on the horizon—one shaped by international investment and a surge of American and Middle Eastern interest in the English game.
Just this week, Preston North End confirmed that discussions are underway with US-born Saudi businessman Amr Zedan regarding a potential investment. The club’s chairman, Ian Penrose, addressed the speculation directly in a statement released on Monday, January 26, 2026: “We have commenced discussions with a number of parties from around the world who have expressed an interest in acquiring Preston North End. This process is in its early stages and is ongoing, as we continue to receive new approaches. I can confirm that we have had discussions with the US-born Saudi businessman Amr Zedan, who we respect highly. Mr Zedan is one of a number of successful individuals or organisations that have made enquiries about the club. Specific comments on any approach are inappropriate at this stage. Whilst such a transaction can take months to conclude, and there is no certainty that a successful outcome will be achieved, it is the Board's intention to conclude these negotiations at the earliest opportunity.”
Zedan, with a reported net worth exceeding £300 million, is no stranger to the world of high-stakes sports. He chairs the Saudi engineering conglomerate Zedan Group and plays prominent roles in Gulf polo and equestrian circles. His racing stable, Zedan Racing, boasts three Grade 1 victories, and he previously submitted an unsuccessful bid to acquire Chelsea FC in 2022. The potential for Zedan to bring his business acumen and sporting ambition to Deepdale has already set tongues wagging across Lancashire and beyond.
This interest comes at a time when American investment in English football has reached unprecedented levels. According to The Athletic in May 2025, 23 of the 72 clubs in the English Football League (EFL) were under American ownership. The phenomenon has been turbocharged by the fairytale rise of Wrexham AFC—propelled from the fifth tier to the brink of Premier League football in just five years under the stewardship of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Their success has inspired a wave of overseas investors eager to replicate the model, especially in clubs with storied histories and untapped potential.
Preston North End certainly fits that bill. Founded in 1880 and based in the heart of a major UK city, the club’s Deepdale stadium is one of the oldest continuously used football grounds in the world. With a capacity that can be expanded should promotion to the Premier League be achieved, Deepdale represents both tradition and opportunity. The club enjoys strong relationships with several Premier League sides, further enhancing its appeal to would-be investors.
Yet, the journey back to the top flight has been anything but straightforward. After their early dominance—claiming both the First Division title and the FA Cup in 1888-89—Preston spent decades oscillating between the Second and Third Divisions. The nadir came in 1985, when the club dropped to the Fourth Division. In an era before automatic relegation to non-league, Preston was re-elected to the Football League by its peers, a lifeline that allowed the club to slowly rebuild. Under the guidance of future Everton and West Ham manager David Moyes, Preston climbed back to the Championship, though heartbreak followed with play-off final defeats in 2001 and 2005.
The past decade has seen Preston North End establish itself as a stable, if unspectacular, Championship outfit. Despite spending 11 consecutive seasons in the division, the club has yet to finish in the top six during this period. Hopes were high earlier this season as North End spent much of the campaign inside the play-off places, only to drop out following a crushing 4-0 defeat to Middlesbrough on Saturday, January 24, 2026. The Athletic recently dubbed Preston “the hardest club to support in England,” a label that many fans would contest given the club’s resilience and moments of joy—such as their memorable play-off final victory at Wembley in 2015.
Ownership of the club has also seen significant change in recent years. Billionaire property developer and racehorse owner Trevor Hemmings took control in 2011, providing financial stability and ambition. Following his passing in 2021, the Hemmings family continued to oversee day-to-day operations. Last year, Craig Hemmings announced a proactive search for new investors or custodians, enlisting the services of Rothschild & Co to manage the process. The move signaled a willingness to embrace new ideas and capital at a time when English football is increasingly shaped by global financial currents.
Preston’s situation is emblematic of a broader transformation sweeping through the English game. The Premier League, born in 1992 from a breakaway of the top 22 clubs, has become a global entertainment juggernaut. Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of broadcasting rights fueled an explosion in revenues, turning clubs into brands and fans into consumers. As Delia Smith, the longtime majority shareholder of Norwich City, remarked on January 27, 2026: “There’s two ways to look at it. One is that the Premier League is the best in the world and everybody lauds us and our competition, but in another way we’ve lost so much of what football is. I think that’s a bit sad.”
For clubs like Preston North End, the lure of Premier League riches is both a dream and a challenge. Promotion promises a windfall from broadcasting deals and sponsorships, but the path is fraught with sporting and financial peril. The influx of foreign investment offers hope of bridging the gap, yet also raises questions about identity, tradition, and the soul of the game.
For now, the future of Preston North End hangs in the balance. Negotiations with Amr Zedan and other interested parties are ongoing, with no guarantee of a successful outcome. What is certain, however, is that the club’s storied past and passionate fanbase will ensure that every twist and turn is closely watched. As the Championship season rumbles on and the boardroom talks continue, Preston’s faithful supporters can only hope that brighter days—and perhaps a long-awaited return to the top flight—are just around the corner.