rewrite this title David Beckham and Gary Neville lead Salford City buy-out

A consortium led by David Beckham and Gary Neville that includes a number of global businesspeople has bought Salford City, the League Two club have announced.

Former Manchester United and England team-mates Beckham and Neville were part of the previous ownership group alongside fellow members of the ‘Class of 92’ such as Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt that took over in 2014.

Their financial backing secured four promotions in five seasons as Salford climbed the non-league system and into the Football League in 2019.

They have remained in League Two ever since, however, prompting Beckham and Neville to take action.

Salford City announces that the Club has been acquired by a new ownership group led by David Beckham and Gary Neville, and includes US-based businessman Declan Kelly and Lord Mervyn Davies who will both serve as new Co-Chairs of the Club’s board.

— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) May 8, 2025

A commitment to ‘invest significantly’

A club statement read: “Salford City Football Club (SCFC) today announced that the club has been acquired by a new ownership group led by David Beckham and Gary Neville, together with US-based businessman Declan Kelly and Lord Mervyn Davies who will both serve as new co-chairs of the club’s board.

“The acquisition includes a commitment by the new shareholders to invest significantly in the club, the team and its facilities.

“The acquisition has been uniquely structured, through a members club made up of nine shareholders including Dream Sports Group (India’s leading sports technology company), Colin Ryan (Founder, Clipper Street Capital), Frank Ryan (Global Co-Chair, Global Co-CEO, and Americas Chair, DLA Piper), Nick Woodhouse (Executive Vice Chairman, Authentic Brands Group), and Shravin Mittal (Founder of Unbound).

“These shareholders have extensive experience working with many of the world’s biggest companies and brands. The membership group has been specifically constructed to include executives drawn from different backgrounds across finance, legal, media, tech and entertainment sectors to maximise the impact and contribution they can have on the club moving forward.”

The statement confirms Butt, Giggs, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville will continue to contribute with roles in “technical, football, commercial, recruitment and the SCFC foundation”.

Beckham hoping to give back to Salford

Beckham, who is also the president and co-owner of MLS side Inter Miami, said: “I grew up in Salford. I have such fond memories of my time living there and the place and its people played such an important part in my early life in football. 

“Salford City is at the heart of its community, it has a rich history and I am delighted to be a part of the next chapter.”