Salford City FC is one of the most talked-about football clubs in England right now — not because they are winning the Premier League, but because of who owns them. In just over a decade, this small community club from Greater Manchester has gone from playing in front of 140 people in the eighth tier of English football to being owned by one of the most star-studded ownership consortiums in the history of the sport. David Beckham, Gary Neville, India’s Dream Sports Group, and a collection of powerful global business figures now sit at the top of the club.
And the biggest twist? The original Class of 92 takeover that started it all — the one that made Salford City famous around the world — is now history. A brand new era began on May 8, 2025.
Here is the complete, verified ownership story.
Who Owns Salford City FC Right Now in 2026?
Salford City FC has been acquired by a new ownership group led by David Beckham and Gary Neville, and includes US-based businessman Declan Kelly and Lord Mervyn Davies, who both serve as new Co-Chairs of the club’s board.
The club has nine shareholders who also include Dream Sports Group, Colin Ryan, Frank Ryan, Nick Woodhouse, and Shravin Mittal.
The takeover was officially announced on May 8, 2025, marking a complete restructuring of the club’s ownership. Beckham and Neville — who had been at the club since 2014 and 2019 respectively — remained, but everyone else from the famous Class of 92 era stepped away as shareholders.
Who Owns Salford City FC — Full Ownership Table
| Owner / Shareholder | Role | Background | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Beckham | Co-Owner & Club Leader | Former England and Man United captain | Grew up in Salford; also co-owns Inter Miami CF in MLS |
| Gary Neville | Co-Owner & Club Leader | Former Manchester United and England defender | Part of Salford since 2014; drove the entire growth journey |
| Declan Kelly | Co-Chair of the Board | Founder, Chairman & CEO of Consello (advisory firm) | US-based businessman; instrumental in forming the new consortium |
| Lord Mervyn Davies | Co-Chair of the Board | Former British banker; Chair of Consello’s Advisory Board | Former UK Trade Minister; brings financial and governance gravitas |
| Dream Sports Group | Consortium Member | India’s leading sports technology company (Dream11) | Marks Dream Sports’ debut in international football club ownership |
| Shravin Mittal | Consortium Member | Founder of Unbound (investment firm) | Son of Lakshmi Mittal; brings venture capital expertise |
| Nick Woodhouse | Consortium Member | Executive Vice Chairman, Authentic Brands Group | Brings global brand-building experience to the club |
| Colin Ryan | Consortium Member | Founder, Clipper Street Capital | Private investment professional |
| Frank Ryan | Consortium Member | Global Co-Chair, Global Co-CEO and Americas Chair, DLA Piper | One of the world’s leading international law firm executives |
The Origin Story: From 140 Fans to Global Headlines
Salford City FC was founded in 1940 and spent decades as a quiet community club in Greater Manchester, playing in the lower reaches of non-league football. For most of its history, the club was entirely unknown outside its local area. Then came 2014 — and everything changed.
Five years later, in 2019, David Beckham bought 10% of the ownership, meaning that the former Man Utd players had owned the majority of the club since. Following the takeover by the consortium, Ryan Giggs suggested they wanted Championship football within 10 years at Salford City FC. In the 10 years the Class of 92 have owned Salford City, the club has been promoted four times.
Ex-United quintet Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Nicky Butt, who agreed to take over the club in March, had 50% ownership. Lim, who had just taken over Valencia, acquired the other 50% stake.
That original 2014 takeover put Salford City on the global football map. The involvement of five of Manchester United’s most celebrated players — the legendary Class of 92 who had all won the UEFA Champions League together — turned a non-league club into an international talking point overnight.
The Rise Under the Class of 92
The years between 2014 and 2025 were extraordinary for Salford City. The club went from the eighth tier of English football to the fourth tier — the EFL League Two — in just five seasons. That is four promotions in five years, a rate of progress almost unmatched in English football at any level.
Average attendances rising from just 140 to about 2,500. The Moor Lane ground was completely redeveloped. The club also won the EFL Trophy in the 2019-20 campaign — their first season in League Two.
The rise attracted significant media attention, a Netflix-style documentary, and sponsorship deals that would have been unimaginable for a club of Salford’s size just a decade earlier. The Class of 92 had done something genuinely remarkable — used their fame, their business connections, and their passion for football to transform a sleeping community club into a real footballing institution.
But progress eventually stalled. Singaporean Lim — owner of Spanish side Valencia — owned 40% of the club after Beckham’s arrival in 2019, with the remaining 60% held by the former Manchester United players. The club had remained in League Two since reaching the EFL in 2019.
The Peter Lim Exit and Gary Neville’s Takeover Moment
Before the big May 2025 consortium announcement, there was a crucial intermediate step. Gary Neville became the principal owner of Salford City after buying out Peter Lim’s interest in the club. The club confirmed the news of Singaporean businessman Lim’s exit as their statement read: “Salford City FC announces today that Gary Neville has acquired from Peter Lim his interest in the club. This simplifies the corporate structure and paves the way for a new strategic partner to take the club forward into the next phase of growth.”
With Lim out and Neville holding the majority, the stage was set for the biggest ownership overhaul in the club’s history.
The May 2025 Takeover: A New Era Begins
On May 8, 2025, Salford City FC officially announced its new nine-member ownership consortium — and the football world paid attention.
The revamped leadership structure sees US-based businessman Declan Kelly, Founder, Chairman and CEO of advisory and investment firm Consello, and Lord Mervyn Davies, Chair of Consello’s Advisory Board, step in as new Co-Chairs of the Salford City FC board.
The acquisition was uniquely structured through a members club made up of nine shareholders including Dream Sports Group (India’s leading sports technology company), Colin Ryan (Founder, Clipper Street Capital), Frank Ryan (Global Co-Chair, Global Co-CEO, and Americas Chair, DLA Piper), Nick Woodhouse (Executive Vice Chairman, Authentic Brands Group), and Shravin Mittal (Founder of Unbound).
The departure of Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Phil Neville as shareholders was the end of a remarkable chapter. However, the quartet will remain involved with the club in roles across technical, football, commercial, recruitment, and the SCFC foundation.
Dream Sports Group: The Indian Connection
One of the most fascinating elements of the new ownership is the involvement of India’s Dream Sports Group — the company behind Dream11, India’s most popular fantasy sports platform.
This move marks Dream Sports’ debut in international football club ownership. The new ownership group aims to invest significantly in the club’s team and infrastructure.
Dream Sports Group brings with it access to a massive Indian sports fan base, digital sports technology expertise, and commercial connections across one of the world’s fastest-growing sports markets. For a club like Salford City, that kind of international reach could open doors to sponsorship and fan engagement that were simply not available under the old ownership structure.
Similarly, Shravin Mittal — son of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and founder of the Unbound investment firm — adds significant venture capital firepower and connections to global business networks.
Where Does Salford City Stand in 2025-26?
The 2025-26 season is the 86th season in the history of Salford City Football Club and their seventh consecutive season in League Two — the fourth tier of English football. The club is currently managed by head coach Karl Robinson and plays home games at Moor Lane stadium.
The new ownership has committed to significant investment in the squad, training facilities, and the club’s broader infrastructure. Gary Neville has been clear that the goal over the next four to five years is to achieve financial sustainability first — and then push for promotion to League One and eventually the Championship.
David Beckham, who grew up in Salford and has always maintained a deep emotional connection to the city, described the new chapter as personally meaningful. Beckham said: “Salford City is at the heart of its community. It has a rich history and I am delighted to be a part of the next chapter.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Salford City FC in 2026?
Salford City FC is owned by a nine-member consortium led by David Beckham and Gary Neville, formed on May 8, 2025.
Q2. Is David Beckham still involved with Salford City?
Yes. David Beckham is a co-owner and key figure in the new consortium that took over Salford City FC in May 2025.
Q3. Does the Class of 92 still own Salford City?
No. Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Phil Neville exited as shareholders in May 2025, though they remain involved in non-ownership roles at the club.
Q4. Who is the co-chair of Salford City FC’s board?
Declan Kelly (CEO of Consello) and Lord Mervyn Davies (Chair of Consello’s Advisory Board) serve as Co-Chairs of Salford City FC’s board.
Q5. What is Dream Sports Group’s role at Salford City?
Dream Sports Group — the Indian company behind Dream11 — is one of nine shareholders in Salford City’s new consortium, marking its debut in international football club ownership.
Q6. What league does Salford City FC play in?
Salford City FC plays in EFL League Two — the fourth tier of English football — for the 2025-26 season, their seventh consecutive year at this level.
Q7. Who was Peter Lim and why did he leave Salford City?
Peter Lim was a Singaporean billionaire who co-owned Salford City from 2014 until Gary Neville bought out his stake in 2024, paving the way for the new 2025 consortium.
Q8. When did the Class of 92 first take over Salford City?
The Class of 92 — Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Nicky Butt — took over Salford City in 2014, with Peter Lim holding a 50% stake alongside them.
Salford City FC is owned by a nine-member consortium formed in May 2025, led by David Beckham and Gary Neville — two of the most iconic figures in English football history. The new co-chairs of the board are Declan Kelly and Lord Mervyn Davies, both senior figures from the world of global business and finance. The full consortium includes Dream Sports Group (India), Shravin Mittal, Nick Woodhouse, Colin Ryan, and Frank Ryan.
The previous owners — Peter Lim, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Phil Neville — have all exited as shareholders, though the latter four remain connected to the club in non-shareholding roles. Under their stewardship, Salford City rose four tiers in five seasons. The new consortium’s mission is to take the next step: League One, the Championship, and beyond.