Daniel Kretinsky, the Czech billionaire who has steadily tightened his grip on West Ham United, is planning to loan roughly £100 million to the club for new player signings. The move comes at a moment when the east London club finds itself in arguably the most turbulent period in its modern history: relegated from the Premier League, bleeding money, and navigating a leadership vacuum at the top.
A club in crisis meets a billionaire with a plan
West Ham were relegated from the Premier League in May 2026. The club recorded a £104.2 million loss in the previous year, and post-relegation, West Ham has faced pressure to raise over £100 million through player sales just to balance its books.
On June 13, 2026, Kretinsky increased his stake from 27% to approximately 43% through his vehicle 1890 Holdings, making him the club’s single largest shareholder. Co-chairman David Sullivan resigned amid misconduct allegations, and the ownership shares previously held by the Gold family changed hands. Kretinsky acquired those shares, effectively repositioning himself from a significant minority investor to the dominant force in the boardroom.
Kretinsky first entered the West Ham ownership structure in November 2021 with a 27% stake.
