Derby County are reportedly in talks with Turki Alalshikh about the boxing promoter potentially investing in the Championship club, and the Independent Football Regulator is said to be conducting checks on the Saudi government official before permitting any deal. Alalshikh, 44, serves as a minister advising the Royal Court and chairs the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), which regulates the country’s entertainment sector.
CEO Today detailed in a biography published last year that his net worth was over £2billion as of 2024. He claimed on X in October that “Manchester United is now in an advanced stage of completing a deal to sell to a new investor. I hope he’s better than the previous owners.” Alalshikh later clarified: “I am not the investor, nor are they from my nation. I’m posting this as a fan who wishes the deal to happen, though it might not necessarily happen.”
The Telegraph now reports that Derby have held detailed talks with him through their current owner, David Clowes, but the publication adds that the nature of Alalshikh’s interest remains unclear. However, it appears unlikely that he would take up a similar role to the one he holds at the GEA, as Clowes is said to intend to stay Derby chairman as part of any deal, even if he no longer holds a majority stake in the club.
Alalshikh previously owned the Egyptian Premier League club Pyramids, and he only sold Spanish second-tier side Almeria last summer after six years in charge of the club. Months after selling up, Alalshikh denied reports linking him with Bristol City last September, saying on X: “It is not true that I will buy Bristol City FC.”
Their chief executive, Tom Rawcliffe, however, confirmed weeks later that the club had conversations with Alalshikh. The Robins, like Derby, are open to investment as they look to compete for promotion to the Premier League.
After speculation about an interest in the Rams seemingly sparked from supporters noticing that Alalshikh followed several fan accounts on X, he addressed those rumours on social media. He posted: “Derby,” followed by the person shrugging emoji.
It comes approaching a year after selling Almeria to a Saudi investment group. The move came weeks before co-founding boxing promotion company Zuffa Boxing with UFC chief executive Dana White.
The billionaire’s involvement in boxing dates back almost three years, starting with Tyson Fury’s fight with Francis Ngannou in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia had already hosted Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight title rematches with Andy Ruiz Jr and Oleksandr Usyk.
Alalshikh has since orchestrated several other high-profile bouts, including the undisputed heavyweight championship fight between Fury and Usyk. Now through Zuffa, he continues to hold events across the United Kingdom and the United States.