Daniel Kretinsky has raised his stake in West Ham United to 46%, becoming the club's largest shareholder as of September 4, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. David Sullivan's shareholding will increase slightly to 40%, making him the second-largest shareholder, while Tripp Smith's stake will rise to 11%, with remaining shareholders holding about 3% collectively [1, 2, 3, 4].
The share acquisition involved existing West Ham shareholders exercising pre-emption rights to block a proposed sale of a 25% stake owned by the Gold family to Amanda Staveley's consortium [1, 2, 3, 4]. Vanessa Gold, representing the Gold family, had previously agreed to sell the family's entire stake to Staveley's group in July 2026, but the sale ultimately fell through [2, 3, 4]. Gold said her "ambition through this process has been to ensure the club had the right leadership and to enable West Ham to achieve its potential and return to its rightful place in the Premier League," and added that "Kretinsky would be taking a more active role in the decision-making at the club while giving supporters clarity over the future of West Ham" [2].
David Sullivan resigned as West Ham chairman in June following allegations reported by BBC Panorama and The Times, which he denies [1, 3]. Despite stepping down as chairman, Sullivan has increased his ownership stake in the club.
Kretinsky is expected to take a more active role in the club's management and strategic decisions following his elevation as the largest shareholder [2, 4]. The shareholding changes were officially announced on September 4, 2026, confirming Kretinsky's controlling interest in the Premier League club [2, 4].
