In a sensational twist, the billionaire co-owner of the New York Jets has been linked with a potential West Ham takeover — despite being a self-confessed Chelsea fan.
A new name from the USA is in the frame to buy West Ham United, a top Hammers source has claimed.
Many West Ham fans are growing increasingly frustrated by the club’s failure to build on their Premier League and European successes of recent seasons.
The Hammers have regressed and have endured a torrid 18 months, winning just 14 of their last 56 Premier League matches since January 2024.
There have been several links between the ownership and potential takeovers of West Ham and Chelsea in recent years.
Fresh Chelsea twist to US takeover bid for West Ham
Todd Boehly was actually being linked with a West Ham takeover before eventually leading the purchase of Chelsea.
While resentment from Hammers fans towards their owners is bubbling to the surface again, the jury also very much remains out on the BlueCo ownership of West Ham’s London rivals Chelsea, with some supporters protesting to demand the club is sold on.
David Sullivan is West Ham’s majority owner and arguably also their most divisive figure among supporters.
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Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is the second largest stakeholder, with a 27 per cent share of the Hammers.
But the Sparta Prague owner has gone on record several times saying he is not interested in a full West Ham takeover, much to the disappointment of fans.
Especially as the Hammers have made it clear they are all spent out and will be restricted due to PSR.
Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images
Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images
There was excitement among the West Ham fanbase when it emerged earlier this month that a US investor is in talks to buy the Gold family’s 25 per cent stake in West Ham.
West Ham have confirmed the US bid talks.
Three names were said to be in the West Ham frame, including global superstar Shaquille O’Neal.
There was a twist to that story when a leading source close to West Ham’s owners claimed Chelsea part-owner Mark Walter may be involved.
Guggenheim Partners CEO Walter co-owns Chelsea in another US consortium.
It is reported Walter personally owns just under 13 per cent of Chelsea with Todd Boehly – a former president of Guggenheim Partners.
The global investment firm said to have over £260 billion in assets and is well known to American investment executive, Albert Tripp Smith – who already owns eight per cent of West Ham – as the co-founder of GSO Capital Partners, the credit investment platform of The Blackstone Group.
New York Jets co-owner linked with West Ham takeover
Now there has been another twist to the US takeover claims.
Because a billionaire New York Jets co-owner is being linked with a stunning West Ham takeover despite Chelsea ties.
That’s according to Sean Whetstone, who counts Sullivan and West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady as close contacts.
Whetstone claims banking insiders believe US billionaire Woody Johnson, a member of the founding family of Johnson and Johnson and co-owner of the NFL team New York Jets, could buy West Ham.
Johnson is a former US ambassador to the UK and used to live in Regents Park.
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images
Johnson has a personal net wealth in excess of £2.5bn and owns large office complexes in London reportedly worth over £300m too.
Woody Johnson’s family owns shares in Johnson and Johnson – which is worth an estimated £267bn.
Whetstone states that Johnson was a recent guest of Crystal Palace owner Steve Parish for their game against Nottingham Forest, prompting rumours of a potential buy-in at Selhurst Park.
The man now being linked with the Hammers previously tried to buy the club’s London rivals Chelsea in a £2bn deal before the Boehly takeover.
Johnson conceded at the time that Boehly’s consortium simply made the deal too expensive.
At the time Johnson admitted mixed feelings at not being successful with his Chelsea takeover bid given he is a fan of the club, a fact he couldn’t reveal when working us US ambassador due to the need to be neutral to all London teams.
Chelsea fan Johnson had mixed feelings over failed Blues bid
“It is disappointing, but the numbers have gotten so enormous that on one hand I’m disappointed and on the other hand, financially, I think it’s going to be a huge challenge,” Johnson said at the time, as reported by the likes of The Independent.
“My interest in Chelsea is I’m a fan of Chelsea, When I was over there, I couldn’t be a fan of a particular team. I had to be diplomatic. I had to like all the teams, but we were Chelsea fans. It’s London’s team. The concept of New York and London, I thought, was one that we could do pretty well with that. I thought it would be another interesting endeavour for us.”
Well now West Ham fans will be hoping Johnson retains that appetite for a London-New York link.
Whetstone said: “West Ham remains a viable alternative for American investors or consortia, so Johnson could well be a potential suitor for Gold’s share or bring in other investors as part of a consortium.
“Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has already been linked, as has Guggenheim Partners and Mark Walter, as part of a potential Tripp Smith US consortium.”
West Ham fans won’t mind too much who Johnson supports if he fronts the money to improve the club on and off the pitch.
The news will pile further pressure on Sullivan after West Ham’s rivals Millwall entered takeover talks with a world famous billionaire.