Quick Facts: Aston Villa F.C.
| Owners | Nassef Sawiris & Wes Edens (NSWE Group) |
| Ownership Type | Private (joint ownership) |
| Acquisition | July 2018 |
| League | Premier League |
| Home Stadium | Villa Park, Birmingham, England |
| Founded | 1874 |
| European Titles | 1 (European Cup 1981–82) |
| Publicly Traded | No |
Who Owns Aston Villa?
Aston Villa F.C. is jointly owned by Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens through their combined ownership entity known as NSWE Group. The two investors completed their takeover in July 2018, rescuing the club from financial difficulty and a period of underperformance in the Championship. Under their ownership, Aston Villa returned to the Premier League in 2019 and has since invested significantly in players and infrastructure, establishing the club as a consistent top-half Premier League side and UEFA Champions League participant.
About Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens
Nassef Sawiris is an Egyptian billionaire and chairman of OCI N.V., one of the world’s largest nitrogen fertilizer producers. He is one of Africa’s wealthiest individuals and brings substantial financial muscle to the Aston Villa ownership. Wes Edens is an American co-founder of Fortress Investment Group, a major alternative asset management company. Edens is also a co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), with whom he won an NBA Championship in 2021. The combination of Sawiris’s capital base and Edens’s sports ownership experience has been a significant driver of Villa’s on-field and commercial ambitions.
Key Ownership Highlights
- NSWE Group (Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens) acquired Aston Villa in July 2018, injecting capital to revive the club after financial strain.
- Villa won promotion from the Championship in 2019 and have remained in the Premier League, qualifying for UEFA competition in recent seasons.
- Wes Edens also co-owns the Milwaukee Bucks, which won the NBA Championship in 2021 — illustrating his successful sports-ownership track record.
- The club has made marquee signings under NSWE ownership and reached the UEFA Champions League, reflecting significant investment in competitive infrastructure.
- Aston Villa is one of England’s founding Football League clubs (1874) and remains one of the most historically significant clubs in European football.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Aston Villa?
Aston Villa is jointly owned by Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens through NSWE Group. They completed their acquisition of the club in July 2018.
When did Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens buy Aston Villa?
The NSWE Group takeover of Aston Villa was completed in July 2018.
Is Aston Villa publicly traded?
No. Aston Villa is a privately owned football club and is not listed on any stock exchange.
What other sports teams does Wes Edens own?
Wes Edens is a co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA team, which won the NBA Championship in 2021.