Turki Alalshikh to take over Derby County? Social media hint causes stir online | OneFootball

Turki Alalshikh's recent social media following spree has Championship fans speculating over a potential takeover at Derby

Derby County secured their highest finish in the EFL since their 2018/19 run to the Championship play-off final this season, and were in the mix for a top-six spot right until the very end.

It was an incredibly positive campaign after dodging the drop last time out, as the Rams once again showed their potential as a top Championship club with an ambitious transfer window and good results to back that up.

Now, though, it's all about progressing to the next level and, usually, that comes with fresh investment at the top; something that owner David Clowes hasn't shied away from in recent years.

Indeed, when the Rams were promoted back to the second tier in 2024, Clowes, who saved Derby from going bust when they were in administration in 2022, said he was open to new investors coming in to help push the club towards being a Premier League-level side.

No such investment has come in, but the owner's stance seemingly remains the same. Last December, he confirmed that he was open to selling the club.

And, with the off-season on the horizon, the first hints surrounding who could purchase Derby have surfaced.

Turki Alalshikh, Derby County links strengthen after social media following spree

Turki Alalshikh has been a name which has surrounded the potential purchase of Championship clubs for a year now.

The Saudi government official is one of the most powerful names in the boxing industry and is the mastermind behind some of the biggest fights to take place in Saudi Arabia in recent years.

Last summer, he was linked with potential takeovers at Millwall and Southampton, but the most concrete link came with Bristol City. Robins CEO Tom Rawcliffe stated in a fan forum last October that they did hold talks with Alalshikh over a takeover, talks which didn't progress far, as the man himself stated on his X account.

But the Saudi billionaire's X account has gained traction once more this past weekend, as he was found to have followed a lot of Derby pages, including the official Supporters' Club, the women's team, unofficial news pages and, of course, the official Rams account.

It's unclear as to why Turki Alalshikh has done this, but understandably, it's making Championship fans speculate once more, as the influential boxing promoter could once again be looking to invest in a second-tier club after last year's links fell through.

Turki Alalshikh's wealth could propel Derby County to the next level

Two years ago, it was reported that Turki Alalshikh's net worth was $2.8 billion, and with a couple more successful Riyadh seasons since then, it can only be assumed that this figure is larger now.

Even if it wasn't, though, the boxing mastermind would still be one of the richest owners in the Championship, and his status atop a second-tier club would also add extra eyes onto them, too.

A takeover could be seen as controversial, however, with the 44-year-old part of the Saudi government, which has been criticised by human rights groups for "sportswashing," the use of sports to improve the country's reputation in the public eye.

But what can be unanimously agreed upon is that the wealth and influence of someone like Alalshikh would propel a club on the fringes of the Championship play-offs right up into the automatic promotion race.

David Clowes does have the best interests of Derby at heart, saving them almost as a last resort, given his lifelong support of the club, so he'll definitely be making sure that the club doesn't fall into the wrong hands once more.

Whether the right hands belong to Turki Alalshikh is yet to be seen, but it's an indication that a summer of takeover rumours from the Saudi billionaire is set to commence once again.