West Bromwich Albion Owner Receives U.S. Bid Approach
- Yunyi Guokai head Lai has rejected the idea of a sale
- Chinese government is cracking down on foreign takeovers
James Morrison of West Bromwich Albion scores his sides first goal past Mathew Ryan of Brighton and Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and West Bromwich Albion at Amex Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Brighton, England.
Photographer: Dan Istitene/Getty ImagesThe owners of West Bromwich Albion Football Club have been approached by a U.S. investor interested in buying the English soccer club, according to people familiar with the situation.
Yunyi Guokai Shanghai Sports Development, which agreed to buy an 88 percent stake in the English Premier League club in 2016, has rejected the idea of a sale, one of the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private. The approach was made to another investor in the club, though Yunyi Guokai’s leader, Chinese entrepreneur Lai Guochuan, is the ultimate decision maker on any sale or new shareholder, the person said.