David Beckham and Gary Neville have completed a full takeover of Salford City as part of a newly formed consortium, marking a significant new chapter in the club’s journey. The move sees the duo buy out the remaining members of the Class of ’92—Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, and Phil Neville—who had co-owned the club since their 2014 acquisition of the then-eighth-tier side.
While the quartet will no longer hold shares in the club, they will remain involved across technical, football, and commercial roles, as well as the club’s charitable SCFC foundation. Beckham and Neville’s takeover is backed by a consortium of nine shareholders, including prominent names such as Lord Mervyn Davies, businessman Declan Kelly, and India-based Dream Sports Group.
Beckham, who turned 50 last week, celebrated the announcement with a heartfelt post on Instagram: “I’m so proud to be part of a new ownership group alongside my mate [Gary Neville] as we begin the next chapter of Salford’s journey.”
The announcement comes after a mixed 2024-25 season for the Ammies, who finished eighth in League Two, narrowly missing out on the play-offs by a single point. The club had enjoyed a strong first half of the campaign under manager Karl Robinson, climbing as high as third in January. However, their form dipped significantly following a humbling 8-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, with only six wins in their final 22 matches.
Since the Class of ’92 takeover in 2014, Salford City have experienced a meteoric rise, achieving four promotions in five seasons and entering the English Football League in 2019. But despite early momentum, they have remained stuck in the fourth tier, reaching the play-offs only once—losing to Stockport County in 2023.
The new consortium has pledged significant investment into the club’s infrastructure and playing squad, signalling ambitions to rejuvenate Salford’s push for promotion. In a statement, the club said the acquisition “includes a commitment by the new shareholders to invest significantly in the club, the team and its facilities.”
Gary Neville, who last year acquired Peter Lim’s 50% stake to facilitate a smoother transition to new ownership, said the goal is to make the club sustainable within five years. In a video posted on the club’s X (formerly Twitter) account, he said: “Football always will be the priority. Success on the pitch is critical, but we also need to improve our stadium, training ground, and make the club more accessible. You have my word on that.”
Beckham first invested in Salford City in 2019, joining five years after the initial takeover. His increased involvement signals a renewed focus on growing the club’s profile and operations, both locally and internationally.
In a joint statement, new investors Declan Kelly and Lord Davies added: “We hope to bring more success to Salford City’s wonderful fanbase, players, and everyone associated with the club.”
BBC Sport’s Simon Stone noted that while the Class of ’92 injected considerable funds into Salford, the club’s transformation into a modern EFL entity—including significant infrastructure developments—required much deeper financial backing. With key figures now seeking to scale back their involvement, a revised ownership model was needed.
Some full takeover offers were reportedly rejected due to concerns over control and direction. By forming a consortium of smaller but experienced investors, Neville and Beckham retain influence while leveraging broader financial support and expertise.
Saturday’s narrow miss on a play-off spot was a blow, but with fresh leadership and committed investment, Salford City hope to once again ignite their ascent through English football. The next chapter is underway at Moor Lane—and the ambitions remain as bold as ever.
