Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is in talks with investors interested in putting money up for Newcastle United stadium renovations.
Reuters said the sovereign wealth fund is looking to attract minority investors as part of its fundraising plans for the Premier League club’s St James’ Park stadium renovation plans.
The Magpies have been weighing up the future of their home ground since 2024, with the two initial options being to redevelop the iconic St James’ Park or to construct a new stadium at the nearby Leazes Park site.
PIF is weighing up options of either expanding the club’s current stadium or building a new one and could issue new shares to a prospective new backer of the plans, sources said.
PIF currently own 85% of Newcastle United with the Reuben family owning the remaining 15%.
Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson said that the club was considering building a new stadium, while a renovation would cost in the hundreds of millions of pounds.
A new stadium could cost in excess of £1 billion pounds said Hopkinson.
Another option to raise new funds for Newcastle United stadium renovations includes a potential securitisation of Newcastle’s commercial revenue, the person said, adding no decision has been made yet on the investment.
Newcastle United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England (UK). The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.
St James’ Park is a football stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England (UK). It is the home of the Premier League team Newcastle United F.C. With a seating capacity of 52,305 it is the eighth largest football stadium in England.
The club is also preparing to open a new multimillion-pound expansion of its training centre that will extend its footprint by more than 50%.
The search for investors for Newcastle United stadium renovations comes after PIF said it would stop funding LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season, after ploughing more than $5 billion into the venture since it launched in 2022.
The almost $1 trillion wealth fund, the driving force behind Saudi Arabia’s plan to cut its reliance on oil revenues, has made sports central to its strategy, with investments in Formula E, boxing, tennis and esports. The kingdom is also preparing to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
While committed to deploying capital internationally, PIF has is moving away from some investments, including scaling back so-called giga-projects in Saudi Arabia.
PIF led a £305 million takeover of Newcastle from British businessman Mike Ashley in 2021.
Newcastle have succeeded in their first few seasons under Saudi ownership, twice qualifying for the Champions League and winning the League Cup last year. However, the club failed to qualify for European football at the end of the 2025/26 season.
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