Ex-Birmingham City and Leicester striker caught up in 'fraudulent' deal for top football club | OneFootball

Emile Heskey has been in the headlines when it comes to football club ownership

Birmingham City and Leicester City are two Championship clubs who have generated plenty of recent headlines when it comes to the circle of football ownership, albeit for extremely contrasting reasons.

Although Blues and the Foxes were separated by two divisions last season, current developments and the long-term vision of both second tier outfits would suggest that it is definitely the side from the Second City who are in a much more positive position on this front as things stand.

Birmingham supporters have seen plenty of change occur at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park since Tom Wagner completed his initial takeover of the club in July 2023, which has seen plans for a new 62,000-seater 'Powerhouse' stadium drawn up as part of the Sports Quarter regeneration project that is set to be completed in the summer of 2030.

That comes on top of a record-breaking season in League One in which Blues broke their transfer record to sign Jay Stansfield on a permanent basis from Fulham, whilst their Midlands rivals have certainly been on the decline in recent times.

Indeed, 10 years after winning the Premier League title against all odds under Claudio Ranieri, Gary Rowett's side are still staring back-to-back relegations in the face, with a large part of said underperformance down to financial instability at the King Power Stadium.

After initially being alleged to have broken PSR rules en route to their Championship title-winning season under Enzo Maresca two seasons ago, Leicester were eventually hit with a six-point deduction for their troubles in February 2026, making a first stint in League One for 17 years a distinct possibility.

It is also fair to say that, as well as the obvious links between the two clubs as a result of their current managers, with Chris Davies previously an assistant to Brendan Rodgers in the East Midlands whilst Rowett played for, and has now managed the two, that Blues and Foxes fans will have fond memories of several players who donned both badges on their chests.

However, in a fresh turn of events, it has emerged that one has been linked with a controversial takeover in Eastern Europe.

Ex-Birmingham City and Leicester City ace Emile Heskey involved in 'fraudulent' Apollon Limassol takeover deal

Over the weekend, it had been reported by the Daily Mail that ex-Birmingham, Leicester and England international forward, Emile Heskey, had been involved in a fraudulent takeover bid for Cypriot side, Apollon Limassol of the Cypriot First Division.

The publication has stated that, whilst Heskey hasn't committed any wrongdoing of his own, he is tied up in a legal battle as a result of being a key figurehead of a takeover bid that was fronted up by Craig Gabriel, who offered to inject £15m into Apollon's coffers.

Heskey was set to become the club's director of football if Gabriel was successful in his takeover aims. However, he backed out of the deal after previously claiming he was valued at £500m.

The 48-year-old and 62-time Three Lions ace is set to be questioned by Cypriot courts based on his involvement and what Gabriel has informed him in the process, whilst the businessman is reportedly being sued for £8m due to breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation.

However, Gabriel is said to have launched action on this in the UK high courts.

Birmingham City and Leicester City supporters may keep tabs on Emile Heskey, Apollon Limassol situation

Given his association to both clubs, it may be a saga that Birmingham and Leicester fans keep tabs on.

Hailing from Leicester, Heskey made 168 appearances for the Foxes and scored 41 times before moving to Liverpool in what was a then-club-record £11m transfer for the Anfield club.

After four years on Merseyside, the forward moved to St. Andrew's for an initial £3.25m, which could have risen to £6.25m, in May 2004 ahead of his involvement with England in UEFA Euro 2004.

He scored 16 times in 78 appearances for the B9 side between 2004 and 2006, but moved to Wigan Athletic after Blues were relegated to the Championship.