Saudi businessman Amr Zedan is in investment talks with the English Football League's Preston North End club, according to Sky News. In recent weeks, Zedan has been in discussion with Preston North End's board about a possible deal. However, the club, which is chasing a playoff berth, is also in talks with other parties.
Zedan is heavily involved with horseracing primarily in California in association with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. As an owner under his Zedan Racing Stables banner, he has raced nine graded winners in the U.S. Topping that list are current stallions Taiba (Spendthrift Farm), a three-time Grade I winner, GI Arkansas Derby hero Muth (Gainesway Farm), GI Pacific Classic victor Arabian Knight (Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa), GI Woody Stakes winner Arabian Lion (Spendthrift Farm), and current three-year-old Brant (Gun Runner), a winner of the GI Del Mar Futurity. Zedan also raced GI Preakness Stakes third Medina Spirit.
One of England's oldest football teams, Preston North End has been owned by the Hemmings family since July of 2010. In July of 2024, the Hemmings family drafted Rothschild to determine options for new investment or an ownership change.
A spokesperson for Zedan said that Zedan and the club's discussions began in early December “regarding an investment in the club intended to support its long-term Premier League ambitions.”
The spokesperson also claimed there was currently a “lack of constructive engagement by club owners as money coming early into the transfer window which is now closing was key to [Zedan's] enthusiasm for supporting the club, its community and loyal fan base”. This weekend, people with close ties to Preston North End disputed those claims.
Zedan was one of the interested buyers of Chelsea several years ago when the former owner Roman Abramovich was effectively forced to sell after Russia invaded Ukraine.
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