adminAmanda Staveley returning to Newcastle United may sound like a distant possibility, but former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson believes the door is not completely closed on a potential comeback.
Speaking to Football Insider, Borson suggested that a return for Staveley was “not impossible”, although any attempt to buy back into Newcastle would come with significant financial challenges.
With the club’s reported valuation rising to around £1.5 billion, assembling a consortium capable of completing such a deal would be a major undertaking.
Staveley played a crucial role in bringing Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to Newcastle in 2021, helping to end Mike Ashley’s controversial 14-year ownership of the club.
Alongside her husband, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, she became a familiar face among supporters before leaving in July 2024.
Her involvement in the takeover marked a turning point for Newcastle, with supporters dreaming of seeing their club compete regularly with the Premier League’s biggest sides.
The investment that followed helped transform the team’s ambitions, culminating in their Carabao Cup triumph in 2025, which ended a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.
However, Staveley’s departure left questions about whether she would ever return to the club she helped transform.
Newcastle’s current ownership makes that possibility more complicated. PIF holds an 85 per cent stake in the club, while the Reuben family owns the remaining 15 per cent. Any potential takeover or significant change in ownership would therefore depend on the existing shareholders’ willingness to sell and whether a prospective buyer could meet their financial expectations.
The reported £1.5 billion valuation represents a substantial increase from the £305 million paid for Newcastle in 2021. That growth reflects the club’s changing ambitions, commercial potential and position within English football, although the precise amount any buyer would need to pay would depend on the terms of a deal.
For Staveley, returning would require more than the relationships and experience she developed during her previous spell at St James’ Park. She would need the financial backing to compete at the current valuation, while also convincing the existing owners that selling some or all of their interests was the right decision.
There is also the question of Newcastle’s long-term direction. The club continues to pursue its ambitions on the pitch while dealing with the financial restrictions that shape how Premier League teams build their squads. Infrastructure plans, including improvements to training facilities and discussions about the future of St James’ Park, could also influence the ownership group’s long-term strategy.
Newcastle are entering another important period under manager Matthias Jaissle after finishing 12th in the Premier League in the 2025/26 season. Supporters will be hoping the club can return to challenging for European qualification and build on the progress made since the takeover.
For some fans, Staveley’s return would be welcome because of her role in bringing new ownership and renewed optimism to Tyneside. Others may prefer the current ownership to remain in place and continue developing the project rather than introduce another major change.
There is also no guarantee that Staveley would be able to assemble a consortium capable of meeting Newcastle’s reported valuation. Her previous involvement in the club does not automatically mean she would have the financial backing or opportunity to buy back in.
For now, Borson’s comments suggest that a comeback cannot be entirely ruled out, but there is no confirmed indication that Newcastle are for sale or that negotiations over a potential return are taking place.
Would Newcastle United supporters welcome Amanda Staveley back if she could put together a consortium to buy the club, or should PIF and the Reuben family remain in charge and continue building their project?
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Abdulhafiz Teslim
