Joe Staley celebrates Leeds United takeover news as San Francisco 49ers legend reveals himself as investor
The group of sports stars involved in the 49ers takeover of Leeds United continues to expand as Joe Staley revealed himself as he celebrated the deal’s confirmation on Monday night (17 July).
The likes of NBA player Larry Nance Jr, golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas [BBC Sport, 12 July], and more recently swimming Olympian Michael Phelps [Daily Mail, 18 July] have all been named as investors in the group led by the investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers.
But Staley was a 13-season stand-out on the field for the NFL franchise until his retirement after the 2019 campaign, and was named as one of four offensive tackles in the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010’s, making him the first 49ers player past or present known to be involved.
Reacting to the EFL approval on Monday night the six-time NFL Pro Bowler posted on Twitter: “Beyond excited to be apart of this. Cannot wait to see where 49ers Enterprises leadership takes LUFC!!”
New era
The 49ers influence has spread from the boardroom into the recent locker room, and as more names come out may even include current stars.
Staley and the other athletes involved won’t have day-to-day influence but the money that new chairman Paraag Marathe wants to be active with in the transfer market should have a relatively immediate effect.
Now that most of the key considerations have been navigated behind the scenes the focus is firmly on where it would have been had Leeds United not been dealing with a takeover, a managerial chance, and changes to the sporting hierarchy at the same time.
Ethan Ampadu is on the brink of being the first in this summer after a host of primarily loan departures, with Sam Byram apparently in line to join him.
Daniel Farke is going to need to address a number of other positions before the window closes and there appears to be strong plans to land targets in the time that remains.
There will be a lot less business required if some of the key contributors from last season are kept in place, and Marathe has already indicated that is also on the cards.
So while Staley is excited already the fanbase may well be at a similar point in the coming weeks if the right moves can be secured, and crucially if some outgoing ones can be avoided.
In other Leeds United news, an “outstanding” long-term Whites target could now be captured for as little as £4million even though his club is “reluctant” to lose him.