Bristol City takeover: Will it happen by the end of 2025? | OneFootball

Steve Lansdown keeps door open to investment but full sale not on Robins' horizon

The possibility of a Bristol City takeover has once again surfaced, with speculation surrounding Saudi billionaire Turki Alalshikh drawing headlines earlier this month.

While takeover talk is nothing new in the Championship, the combination of Alalshikh’s sporting influence and Steve Lansdown’s long-standing ownership has fuelled debate over whether a change at the top could finally materialise.

Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and one of the most influential figures in world sport, has been linked to several English clubs over the past year.

His portfolio includes staging Tyson Fury’s heavyweight bouts, masterminding the growth of LIV Golf, and brokering deals with UFC and WWE.

Worth an estimated £2.14 billion, he has the resources to radically reshape an EFL side.

Turki Alalshikh breaks silence out on Bristol City interest

In April, talkSPORT's Simon Jordan revealed Alalshikh had sounded him out about buying an English club.

Since then, Southampton, Millwall and Bristol City have all been named as possible targets.

The Robins’ name gained traction after reports of a delegation visiting the club’s High Performance Centre earlier this month.

However, the excitement was short-lived. Alalshikh himself moved quickly to dismiss the rumours, writing on X: “It is not true that I will buy Bristol City FC [thumbs up].”

That has not stopped speculation. The departure of Bristol Sport CEO Gavin Marshall and the sale of Bristol City Women to Mercury 13 earlier this month have only sharpened focus on Lansdown’s willingness to restructure the Bristol Sport umbrella.

Turki Alalshikh message spoils Bristol City takeover optimism - it’s looking unlikely

Despite the noise, the reality is that a Robins takeover by the end of 2025 looks unlikely.

Lansdown has been at the helm since 2002, investing heavily in the club’s infrastructure and repeatedly covering financial losses.

His £45 million redevelopment of Ashton Gate and the construction of state-of-the-art training facilities at Failand have underpinned City’s ambitions to become a Premier League outfit.

He has kept the door open to the “right people” coming in to share the burden, rather than a wholesale takeover.

That stance makes sense. While City are well-positioned off the field, a full buyout requires a level of commitment that Alalshikh himself may not be willing to make.

As Simon Jordan pointed out, Alalshikh’s sporting projects are largely state-backed; ownership of an EFL side would demand his personal wealth, with none of the guarantees or glamour of his current ventures.

City’s strong start to the season under Gerhard Struber adds another wrinkle. Sitting fourth in the Championship table, the Robins are within touching distance of the Premier League dream that has so far eluded Lansdown’s tenure.

The club’s trajectory may actually make new investment more appealing - but equally, it strengthens Lansdown’s hand to remain in charge a little longer.

Ultimately, while Bristol City is an attractive proposition for foreign investors, the most likely scenario is incremental change rather than a blockbuster takeover.