On May 23, 2026, Hull City defeated Middlesbrough 1–0 in the EFL Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium. Standing in the stands, the man who made it all possible told Sky Sports: “This is the best day of my life for sure.” That man is Acun Ilicali — a Turkish media mogul, television producer, and the sole owner of Hull City AFC. For the first time in nine years, the Tigers are heading back to the Premier League — and it is entirely his doing.
What Is Hull City FC?
Hull City Association Football Club is a professional football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club competes in the Premier League in the 2026–27 season following promotion via the play-offs. Founded on 28 June 1904, Hull City play their home games at MKM Stadium, which has a capacity of 25,586. The club’s nickname is The Tigers.
Who Owns Hull City FC Right Now in 2026?
Hull City Tigers Limited is 100% owned by ACM Sports BV (a company incorporated in the Netherlands). ACM Sports BV is 100% owned by Acun Medya Holding BV (a company incorporated in the Netherlands). Acun Medya Holding BV is 100% owned by Acun Medya Holdings A.Ş. (a company incorporated in Turkey). Acun Medya Holding A.Ş. is 100% owned by Ali Acun Ilicali. Ali Acun Ilicali is the ultimate owner of Hull City Tigers Limited and holds a Significant Interest in the Club.
In plain terms — one man owns everything, all the way from the top of a Turkish holding company down to the football club on Anlaby Road in Hull.
Ownership and Key Stakeholders Table
| Party | Role | Stake | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acun Ilicali | Ultimate Owner & Chairman | 100% (via holding structure) | Turkish media mogul; net worth ~$200 million |
| Acun Medya Holdings A.Ş. | Top-Level Parent (Turkey) | 100% of full chain | Turkish company; Ilicali’s flagship media empire |
| Acun Medya Holding BV | Intermediate Holding (Netherlands) | 100% of ACM Sports BV | Dutch-registered holding vehicle |
| ACM Sports BV | Direct Owner of Hull City | 100% of Hull City Tigers Ltd | Netherlands-registered sports holding company |
| Hull City Tigers Limited | Operating Club Entity | N/A | The actual registered football club |
| Assem Allam | Previous Owner | Exited January 2022 | Egyptian-British businessman; owned club 2010–2022 |
| Sergej Jakirović | Head Coach | N/A | Appointed 2025; led Hull to 2026 play-off promotion |
Who Is Acun Ilicali?
Acun Ilicali is a Turkish broadcaster, entrepreneur, and media producer whose career stretches back to the early 1990s. His estimated net worth is $200 million, built through Acun Medya Group — owner of TV channels TV8 and TV8.5, streaming platform Exxen, and Hull City. His company produces content across more than ten countries on four continents.
Ilicali founded Acun Medya in 2006. He is often called the “Turkish Simon Cowell” for his dominance of Turkish television. He produces some of Turkey’s most popular shows, including The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, MasterChef, and Ninja Warrior. His company does not just adapt these formats — it exports them, producing local versions across Europe, South America, and North America.
In August 2024, Acun Medya finalised a 50% acquisition of Sport1 Medien AG in Germany, marking a major push into the German-speaking media market. Owning Hull City is not a vanity project for Ilicali — it is part of a deliberate strategy to expand his media and sports empire internationally.
How Acun Ilicali Bought Hull City
Acun Medya completed the purchase of Hull City from Assem Allam on 19 January 2022. The deal was reported to be worth approximately £30 million. Ilicali took over the club from the controversial Allam family, which helped his popularity straight away, as the Allam family had pushed to rename the club “Hull Tigers” — a move that many supporters never forgave.
When Ilicali arrived, Hull City were battling relegation from the Championship. He immediately appointed a new manager, backed the squad with new signings, and made one thing absolutely clear — his goal was the Premier League.
The Road to the Premier League: A Four-Year Journey
Since taking ownership, Hull City went from 19th to 15th to 7th in the Championship before finally reaching the Premier League in 2026. The journey was not smooth — multiple managers were changed, play-off heartbreaks were felt, and critics questioned whether the money spent was being spent wisely. But Ilicali never wavered from his vision.
On 23 May 2026, Hull City defeated Middlesbrough 1–0 in the EFL Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium, securing promotion to the Premier League for the first time in nine years. Top scorer Oli McBurnie led the way with 17 league goals and 18 in all competitions during the 2025–26 season, with Sergej Jakirović as Head Coach.
Hull City’s Ownership History: Before Acun
Hull City have had many owners across their 121-year history — some beloved, some deeply unpopular.
The Needler family owned the club through much of the mid-20th century before selling in 1997 to David Lloyd, the tennis entrepreneur. A series of owners followed — including Nick Buchanan’s consortium and Adam Pearson — before Russell Bartlett and Paul Duffen purchased the club in 2007. It was under their ownership that Hull City achieved their greatest moment — reaching the Premier League for the first time ever in 2008 and finishing 17th.
The Allam family — led by Assem Allam — then took over in 2010 and ran the club for over a decade, during which Hull City reached two Premier League seasons and the 2014 FA Cup Final. Their time ended in controversy, and Acun Ilicali arrived in January 2022 to begin a new chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Hull City FC in 2026?
Hull City is 100% owned by Turkish media mogul Acun Ilicali through his company Acun Medya, via a chain of Dutch and Turkish holding companies.
Q2. When did Acun Ilicali buy Hull City?
Acun Ilicali’s company Acun Medya completed the purchase of Hull City from Assem Allam on 19 January 2022 for a reported £30 million.
Q3. Has Hull City been promoted to the Premier League under Acun Ilicali?
Yes. On 23 May 2026, Hull City beat Middlesbrough 1–0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, earning Premier League promotion for the first time in nine years.
Q4. What is Acun Ilicali’s net worth?
Acun Ilicali’s net worth is estimated at approximately $200 million, built through Acun Medya, TV8, TV8.5, and Exxen — Turkey’s largest entertainment streaming platform.
Q5. Who owned Hull City before Acun Ilicali?
Hull City was previously owned by the Allam family, led by Assem Allam, who owned the club from 2010 to January 2022.
Q6. What league does Hull City play in for 2026–27?
Following their May 2026 play-off promotion, Hull City will compete in the Premier League for the 2026–27 season.
Q7. Who is Hull City’s head coach in 2026?
Sergej Jakirović is the Head Coach of Hull City, appointed in 2025, and led the club to Championship play-off glory at Wembley in May 2026.
Q8. What is Hull City’s home ground?
Hull City play at MKM Stadium in Kingston upon Hull, which has a capacity of 25,586.
Hull City FC is 100% owned by Acun Ilicali, a Turkish media mogul and chairman who purchased the club in January 2022 for approximately £30 million through his company Acun Medya. The ownership chain runs from Acun Medya Holdings A.Ş. in Turkey, through two Dutch-registered holding companies, down to Hull City Tigers Limited.
With an estimated personal net worth of $200 million, Ilicali has invested heavily in the squad and management to fulfil his stated dream of taking Hull City to the Premier League — a dream that became reality on May 23, 2026, when the Tigers won the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium.