United World, Sheffield United's former owner led by Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad Al Saud, secured a winding-up order against COH Sports Bidco Limited (CSBL) on August 19, 2026, at the High Court in London for more than £35 million in unpaid debt related to the club's sale [1, 2].
CSBL, an American consortium headed by Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, bought Sheffield United in December 2024 for just over £100 million but has not settled the outstanding debt owed to United World under the purchase agreement [3, 1, 2]. The court order targets CSBL itself, not Sheffield United Football Club directly [3, 1].
In June 2026, Sheffield United shares were transferred from CSBL to a new parent company, 1919 Partners LLC, where Rosen and Eltoukhy remain on the club's board [3, 1, 2]. United World alleged this move was "an attempt to avoid paying CSBL's creditors," aiming to shield assets from the outstanding debt [3].
A Sheffield United spokesperson said "this High Court decision is not a Sheffield United Football Club issue," distancing the club from CSBL’s financial difficulties [1]. Meanwhile, United World warned there is "a real prospect that the English Football League (EFL) may have to impose a 12-point deduction, as the EFL's rules would be undermined if owners were able to acquire football clubs without paying for them" if the debt remains unpaid [1].
The winding-up petition was originally filed by United World in July 2026 after CSBL failed to pay the £35 million debt [3]. The next step will depend on CSBL's response to the court order and any resolution of the outstanding funds to avoid potential EFL penalties.
