Leeds United‘s affiliation with the San Francisco 49ers could allow the club to grow hugely in the United States, according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire.
The Lowdown: Successful period under 49ers
The NFL franchise owners initially owned a stake in Leeds back in 2018 and they now have a 44% share in the club, with their influence seemingly growing all the time.
They have been part of a great period in the Whites’ recent history which has included returning to the Premier League after a 16-year absence from it.
Having American owners could certainly be a positive when it comes to Leeds growing across the Atlantic – something that Maguire believes will almost certainly come to fruition.
The Latest: Maguire makes exciting USA claim
Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire, a regular finance pundit on Sky Sports, says that the Whites’ involvement with the 49ers can only bode well when it comes to increasing revenue and generally gaining more of a following in the USA:
“Leeds are a big club. They no doubt see that there are opportunities in relation to the US market. The close relationship the club has with the 49ers means Leeds could attract additional interest on the West Coast of the US.
“Having some joint-badged products could lead to additional merchandise revenues. They can also use the fame of the 49ers to attract further interest in Leeds.
“They have attracted further interest from their promotion to the Premier League and from the documentaries that have been shown on streaming services.”
The Verdict: Growing all the time
This is an exciting update from Maguire, especially when you consider how much football is growing as a whole in America, as they prepare to joint-host the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
Liverpool are a perfect example of how beneficial having US owners who are also involved with a big American sports team can be, with Boston Red Sox owners FSG helping turn the Reds back into one of the world’s biggest clubs.
The hope is that Leeds can look to achieve similar goals – reaching that level may be a little too ambitious for now, but only two teams have won more Super Bowls than the 49ers, so they know a little bit about creating a successful club.
A summer pre-season tour of the US has been mooted by journalist Phil Hay and that is a no-brainer, in terms of spreading the appeal of Leeds across such a huge country, with Jesse Marsch, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson also acting as homegrown poster boys.
