Known for their rich history, passionate fan base, and growing global presence, Tottenham Hotspur have gone on to become one of the famous and richest football clubs in the world. While Spurs continue to compete at the highest levels of English and European football, many fans often ask, “Who owns Tottenham Hotspur?” or “Who owns Spurs?” The answer lies with the ENIC Group, a British investment company that has been at the helm of the club’s ownership for over two decades. Understanding the structure behind the Spurs' owners helps explain the strategic decisions that have shaped the club’s rise in recent years. Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed the services of some superstars in recent years, including the likes of Heung-Min Son and Cristian Romero.
At the centre of Tottenham’s ownership is Joe Lewis, a reclusive billionaire whose family trust controls ENIC Group. Though Lewis keeps a low public profile, his influence is significant, making him the true Tottenham owner. Alongside him is Daniel Levy, who serves as the club’s long-standing chairman and is often referred to as Spurs' owner due to his prominent role in club operations. Together, Lewis and Levy oversaw massive developments, including the building of the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the club’s global commercial expansion, marking a new era for North London’s iconic football institution.
Let us dive into who is the owner of Tottenham Hotspur and other interesting details about the club's ownership.
Who owns Tottenham Hotspur?
Who is the owner of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club? It is mainly owned by a British-based investment group named ENIC. A subsidiary of ENIC Group called ENIC International Limited owned a majority stake in the club, currently 86.91% before Joe Lewis transferred the majority of the stake to his family-owned trust. The ultimate ownership of ENIC Group is with the family trust of a British billionaire, as he owns nearly 70.6% of ENIC; the rest, about 29.4%, is still owned by the ex-long-serving Chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, Daniel Levy, and his family. Hence, while Levy became the face of the club and serves as executive chairman, all strategic and financial decisions rest with the ENIC Group and the primary beneficial owner.
Tottenham Hotspur Owners - Joe Lewis and ENIC Group
Since the club is based in North London and shares historic rivalries with its fellow clubs from the English capital, such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Fulham, in English football. Over the years, Tottenham have been home to some of the greatest players in the world, such as Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Harry Kane, Glenn Hoddle, Jürgen Klinsmann, and Teddy Sheringham, who have proudly donned the white jersey for the North London outfit. So, who owns Tottenham Hotspur?
Tottenham Hotspur is primarily owned by ENIC Group and Joe Lewis. ENIC Group acquired Tottenham Hotspur from Alan Sugar in 2001, steadily increasing its shareholding, now at 86.91%. It has been pivotal for many key projects, such as the development of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Overall, the ownership of ENIC Group is mainly split between Joe Lewis and the Lewis Family Trust and Daniel Levy, the managing director of ENIC Group and the executive chairman of Tottenham. Joe Lewis, a British investor and businessman, through the Lewis Family trust, holds 70.6% of the share capital in ENIC Group and part ownership of the club and is actively involved in strategic operations.
According to a recent report by The Guardian, Andrew Ashcroft, the son of Spurs co-owner billionaire and ex-Conservative Party deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, has acquired a minority stake of 3.4% in Tottenham's ownership. However, it's yet to be disclosed how much Andrew has paid for the 8,023,942 shares of Tottenham Hotspur. Moreover, there's no clarity whether the long-term 4% share owner Lord Ashcroft sold his portion to his son or the father and son duo have multiplied their share of stakeholders to almost 8%.