The Sheffield Wednesday takeover picture is shifting quickly, and with bidders moving in and out of the race, fans are desperate to understand who’s still at the table — and who isn’t. Here’s the latest on where things genuinely stand.
With the club’s sale process advancing behind the scenes, several names have emerged as serious contenders — while others have quietly stepped away. Information remains limited, but through publicly available reporting and conversations with sources close to some of the bidders, a clearer picture is starting to form. This breakdown goes through each known bidder, what we understand about their status, and how it all shapes the race to become the next owner of Sheffield Wednesday.
John Textor
From the information publicly available — and after speaking to a source close to Textor — it appears that John Textor is out of the race to buy Sheffield Wednesday. We understand that Textor did tour the stadium, spoke with the administrators, and began working on a potential offer. However, for reasons still unclear, he ultimately stepped away from the process.
One source told us that Textor had said, “Sheffield Wednesday will go to good hands,” which suggests confidence that another bidder will take the club forward. Online chatter has claimed everything from financial disagreements, to concerns over the £30 million price tag, to worries about the scale and cost of rebuilding the club. But the truth is that nobody outside a small inner circle truly knows why he decided to walk away — and at this stage, speculation is all anyone has.
Mike Ashley
Despite rumours circulating online that Mike Ashley has withdrawn, our understanding is the complete opposite — Ashley is still very much in the running. However, he is refusing to move from his £20 million offer. Simon Jordan said on TalkSport that he believes Ashley is unlikely to buy the club, but that his offer will remain “live and on the table.” That mirrors what we’ve heard.
In short: Ashley hasn’t walked away, but he also isn’t budging. His £20 million bid appears to be firm, fixed, and likely to stay untouched unless the landscape dramatically shifts. Realistically, it may end up being the last remaining offer if other bids fall through — or it may simply sit there until someone else completes a deal.
John McEvoy
McEvoy remains the most mysterious of the known bidders. Very little concrete information has emerged about him, and attempts to gather more detail have been difficult. As far as we understand, he is still in the race and could be one of the more serious contenders.
Other Bidders
Alongside the known names, we believe there are at least four additional bidders:
- One more based in the USA
- One from the Middle East
- Two from the UK/Europe
At this stage, there is no confirmed identity for any of them, and no clarity on how advanced their bids are. What we do know is that the field remains competitive — and the administrators are continuing to assess multiple active parties.
The takeover race is narrowing, but the picture remains fluid — with firm bids, silent bidders, and quiet withdrawals shaping the club’s uncertain future. Who do you believe is the right fit to lead Wednesday forward? Join the conversation on social media and share your thoughts with the fanbase.
Note:
This article is based on publicly available reporting, commentary, and developments at the time of writing.
