Turki Alalshikh opens up on heartbreaking health update amid Derby County takeover links | OneFootball

The 44‑year‑old Saudi billionaire is apparently close to securing investment in the Rams

Derby County's potential Saudi Arabian investor, Turki Alalshikh, has opened up on a devastating health battle.

When the billionaire’s interest in the Rams was first revealed at the end of May, talks were described as already being at an ‘advanced’ stage, with the Independent Football Regulator involved in the process.

Derby's chief executive, Stephen Pearce, has since addressed the club's Supporters' Board, confirming that while discussions are ongoing, no announcements will be made until all necessary processes with the EFL and the IFR have been completed.

Now - separate from takeover talk at Pride Park - Alalshikh has addressed the serious health problems that have been a part of his life for over a decade.

Potential Derby County investor Turki Alalshikh opens up on heartbreaking health update

Action Images

Speaking to Ring Magazine, Alalshikh made an emotional admission about the long-term consequences of the cancer and brain tumour diagnosis he received from 2015 onwards.

For context, he is said to have spent much of 2018 and 2019 in New York undergoing treatment, and his latest comments show that he remains fully aware of the nature of his condition.

"I'll do my best to do a meeting soon between my brothers Dana White, Nick Khan, Frank Warren, Eddie Hearn, and my partners and friends," Alalshikh told the publication.

On the football side, Alalshikh has previously been linked with investment in England, as well as owning clubs in Spain and Egypt, and he’s made no secret of his ambitions in the game.

His interest in Derby is clearly serious, and the Rams may be bracing for fresh financial backing by pushing ahead with their transfer business before any formal announcement arrives.

The well-known signing of Bobby Clark on a permanent basis is perhaps the clearest indication of that. The 21-year-old midfielder, who excelled on loan at Pride Park last season and won the club's Young Player of the Season award, is close to completing a deal from RB Salzburg in a move understood to be worth in the region of £5m to £6m.

How Conor McGregor and Ryan Garcia reacted to Turki Alalshikh's health update

Action Images

Action Images

Turki’s admission sparked an immediate reaction across the fighting world. Conor McGregor, the former two‑division UFC champion, was among the first to respond publicly, posting on X: "Legend!".

WBC Welterweight champion Ryan Garcia then followed up with a longer message, thanking Alalshikh for his passion for boxing.

Ultimately, the fact he’s even looking at investing in a Championship club shows how much energy he’s still putting into sport despite what he’s dealing with privately.