Amanda Staveley to leave Newcastle just three years after orchestrating £300m Saudi takeover

Per The Athletic, Staveley and her husband Ghodoussi are both set to leave their posts at St James' Park. The former played a key role in the PR campaign that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) led when purchasing the club from Mike Ashley in 2021. When PIF completed their purchase, Staveley secured a 10 per cent stake in the club. That was diluted to six per cent earlier this year and, per Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, those stocks will be sold to either PIF or the Reuben brothers, who are also invested.

PIF have backed Newcastle heavily in recent seasons, with the club finishing fourth in 2022-23, and losing the Carabao Cup final to Manchester United, having avoided relegation the season prior. In 2023-24, they finished seventh and narrowly missed out on European football.

PIF have spent around £380m ($486m) since their takeover, bringing in the likes of Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimaraes. However, this summer, they have had to deal with PSR issues, and considered selling one of their big-money signings, Anthony Gordon, to Liverpool.

Newcastle are currently preparing for the 2024-25 season under head coach Eddie Howe. They will next be in action in a pre-season friendly against Hull City on July 27.