Sheffield United's £35m ownership row takes new twist after Prince Abdullah decision | OneFootball

Prince Abdullah is in the middle of a legal dispute with COH Sports

Sheffield United will be aiming to get back into promotion contention over the next 12 months.

Chris Wilder’s side endured an underwhelming previous campaign, with the team finishing 13th in the Championship table, 13 points adrift of the top six.

The Blades reached the play-off final as recently as 2025, but were unable to maintain that competitive level in 2025/26.

Wilder will be hoping for a busy summer transfer window, as he looks to strengthen his first team squad for the upcoming year.

The Yorkshire outfit have already completed the signing of Romelle Donovan on loan from Brentford.

Sheffield United will have until 1 September to complete any remaining transfer business, although issues emerging behind the scenes could slow down their activity in these next couple months.

Ex-Sheffield United owner takes action

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It has been reported by The Star that former Sheffield United owner Prince Abdullah has hired Nick De Marco as he continues to chase the current owners COH Sports for money he feels is owed to him.

It first emerged earlier this week that COH Sports, who have rebranded to 1919 Partners LLC, have been handed a winding-up petition by the Saudi Arabian businessman.

COH Sports purchased the Championship side from Prince Abdullah in December 2024, but it’s alleged that they still owe as much as £35 million as part of the deal that was agreed to complete the takeover.

And now the former owner has hired De Marco, who is a highly-respected lawyer in the world of football.

He has previously worked for a number of EFL clubs, which includes bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday, and has earned a reputation for winning a number of high profile cases.

While no court case is imminent, it’s possible that it could head in that direction unless the two parties can strike an agreement to settle the dispute before then.

How Sheffield United fans feel about COH Sports and Prince Abdullah dispute

Sheffield United fans have responded negatively to reports that De Marco has been hired by Prince Abdullah, with his reputation offering a warning sign for supporters.

While it remains unclear what the path forward will be in this case, the involvement of De Marco has made it clear to fans that this could become quite serious quite quickly.

Meanwhile, some supporters are optimistic that an agreement can be reached to resolve the dispute without a court case, or the possible threat of administration for the club.

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Sheffield United need to resolve Prince Abdullah situation quickly

The decision to hire De Marco is an indication that Prince Abdullah is quite serious about this matter, and that he won’t go away until there’s a resolution.

He believes he’s owed a significant sum of money, and Sheffield United need to put an end to this matter as quickly as they can.

It would be quite disappointing for fans if player sales will be needed to raise funds to offer payment to Prince Abdullah, if he is indeed owed money from COH Sports.

But if it can avoid a winding-up order, which would lead to administration, then that would be a better alternative.