Sheffield United, one of England’s most historic clubs, has never really been short of drama—on or off the pitch. For the past decade, the noise hasn’t just been about results or relegations but about who actually owned the club. That saga, which dragged on for years and at times felt endless, has finally wrapped up. There’s now a new group in charge.
The short version? Sheffield United are now owned by COH Sports, a US-based consortium led by Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy. Their takeover, completed in December 2024, put an end to Prince Abdullah bin Mosa’ad Al Saud’s reign, which many fans will probably remember as controversial at best, divisive at worst.
But to make sense of this new chapter, you have to look back at the ownership tug-of-war that defined the Blades’ recent history.
The Era of Prince Abdullah: A Messy Partnership
For years, the club’s story was shaped by an uneasy partnership between two very different men: Kevin McCabe, a local property developer and lifelong supporter, and Prince Abdullah, a Saudi royal.
When Abdullah bought a 50% stake in 2013, it looked like the perfect marriage of passion and deep pockets. It wasn’t. The partnership soured, communication collapsed, and the whole thing ended up in the courts.
The decisive moment came in 2019 with something called a “roulette notice”—a legal mechanism that forced one party to buy out the other. Abdullah won, and McCabe was out. From that point on, the Prince was in sole control.
A Club in Limbo
Abdullah’s sole ownership wasn’t all bad. The club did have moments, including a ninth-place Premier League finish that reminded everyone what Bramall Lane can feel like when things click. But the good times didn’t last. Results dipped, relegation followed, and there was a growing sense among fans that the club was treading water.
Rumours of takeovers came and went—everything from consortiums to a high-profile Nigerian bid that ultimately collapsed. Each time, hope flickered, then fizzled out. For supporters, it felt like being stuck in limbo, waiting for someone to steady the ship.
The Arrival of COH Sports
That someone finally arrived at the end of 2024. COH Sports, a new American consortium, agreed a £111 million deal and received EFL approval just before Christmas. For many fans, it felt like the long-running soap opera had reached its final act.
The consortium is led by two figures whose backgrounds couldn’t be further from the terraces of South Yorkshire:
- Steven Rosen – a financier from Ohio, co-founder of Resilience Capital Partners. His career has spanned industries like aerospace and defence. Think of him as the dealmaker and financial strategist in the partnership.
- Helmy Eltoukhy – a biotech entrepreneur from California, best known as the co-founder of Guardant Health, which develops blood tests for cancer detection. His world is data and science, not football, but that analytical mindset may well influence the way Sheffield United approach recruitment and operations.
Even the consortium’s name—COH—nods to their roots: “C” for California, “OH” for Ohio. It’s a small detail, but it says something about the way they want to brand this as a blend of backgrounds.
What Might This Mean for the Blades?
The new owners have promised a few things. Some sound realistic, others a bit more ambitious:
- Consistency at the top level – They don’t just want to yo-yo between leagues; the stated goal is a club that can genuinely hold its own in the Premier League.
- Data-led decisions – Unsurprisingly, given their backgrounds, Rosen and Eltoukhy seem keen to use analytics to shape recruitment and performance. Whether that translates into smarter transfers remains to be seen.
- Investment – They’ve already dipped into the market with a notable signing soon after the deal closed, a gesture that suggests they’re willing to back the squad.
- A wider footprint – Their takeover wasn’t limited to the men’s first team. It also included Sheffield United Women, the club-owned hotel, and other real estate assets, hinting at a broader, longer-term play.
A Reshaped Board
As part of the change, the board has been restructured. Rosen and Eltoukhy now sit as co-chairmen, supported by other members of the consortium alongside familiar faces from the club’s existing leadership. It’s a mix of new energy and continuity—whether that balance works in practice is another question.
A New Chapter—With Caveats
After a decade of legal spats, uncertainty, and stalled deals, Sheffield United finally have clarity. The club is now firmly in the hands of an American consortium with serious financial clout and a data-first outlook.
Still, it’s worth noting: US ownership in English football has a mixed track record. For every example of stability and success, there are others where fans feel disconnected or left behind. Blades supporters, understandably cautious after years of turbulence, may be wondering which side of that coin they’ll land on.
What’s clear is that Sheffield United are no longer drifting. They have new backers, a new vision, and—at least for now—a fresh chance to write the next part of their story.