Thai tuna tycoon Dejphon Chansiri has bought Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, which currently plays in the second tier of English soccer, for an undisclosed sum.
Chansiri’s family controls Thai Union Frozen Products Public Company Limited (TUF), the world’s largest producer of canned tuna products. He had been in talks with Sheffield Wednesday’s previous owner Milan Mandaric and his company UKFI Ltd. since the end of last year.
The South Yorkshire club is one of the oldest professional teams in the world.
In a statement on the club’s official website, Chansiri said: “I am very excited at the prospect of taking over control from Milan. I believe this club has huge potential and I can assure all our supporters that I will be working extremely hard to bring the success that I already sense from my short time in your city our supporters so desperately crave.”
Chansiri also confirmed his group had recently made funds available to help the club bring in two recent loan signings from Chelsea and Manchester United and that he hoped to add more players to the squad.
The deal is still subject to ratification by the Football League and during that process Chansiri will become involved in the operation of the club to ensure a smooth handover upon completion.
In December last year, TUF announced the purchase of Bumble Bee Foods from private equity firm Lion Capital. With a purchase price exceeding USD 1.5 billion (EUR 1.3 billion), it was the largest acquisition in the company’s history.
