Yesterday’s report by Standard Sport, which claimed West Ham co-owner Daniel Křetínský has an option to buy all remaining shares in the football club, may not be quite what it seems.
The London-based outlet suggested the Czech billionaire would be able to buy out his fellow shareholders should he wish to.
However, a quick dig through the Claret & Hugh archives reveals a rather different version of events, including direct comments from majority shareholder David Sullivan insisting that was not the case.
Speaking to exclusively to Claret & Hugh’s Sean Whetstone in October 2024, Sullivan said:
“Daniel Kretinsky has no option on other shares that no other shareholders have. If and when the Gold shares sell, we all have matching rights pro-rata to our existing shareholding.
“This kind of talk is quite unsettling for the club, its players and staff. There are no discussions.”
Previous Kretinsky Option Expired
That also matches our understanding from a separate source.
As previously reported by C&H on several occasions, Křetínský did hold an option during 2023 to purchase additional shares at the same valuation as his original investment.
However, he failed to trigger that option within the agreed timeframe.
Most Likely Outcome Remains Share Dilution
The most likely scenario still appears to be a fresh investment from Křetínský which would dilute the existing shareholdings and increase his own stake in West Ham to around 40%.
At that point, indications are that Sullivan would also inject further money into the football club in order to raise his own shareholding and maintain parity with Křetínský.