EFL examines Sheffield United over claim owners trying to avoid paying full purchase price

• Prince Abdullah asserts he is still owed £35m

• Shares allegedly transferred to new company

The English Football League is investigating allegations that Sheffield United’s owner, the American investment group COH Sports, has formed a new parent company for the club to avoid paying £35m owed to the previous owner, Prince Abdullah.

COH Sports, led by Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, agreed https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/dec/23/sheffield-united-takeover-completed-as-coh-sports-buys-championship-leaders">a deal to buy United from the Saudi Arabian for about £100m in December 2024 and paid the first instalment of about £30m shortly after, but are alleged to have been late in paying the second instalment and missed two subsequent payments due this year.

Abdullah’s investment vehicle, United World, issued a winding-up petition in the high court against COH Sports this week and has taken its concerns to the EFL and the Independent Football Regulator.