Spotify founder Daniel Ek – understood to be worth of £4.7billion – announces desire to buy Arsenal off Stan Kroenke as the Gunners owner comes under serious fan pressure via angry protests outside the Emirates Stadium
- Spotify founder Daniel Ek has thrown his hat in the ring to purchase Arsenal
- Gunners owner Stan Kroenke is under mounting pressure to sell the club
- Furious fans gathered outside the Emirates Stadium in their masses on Friday
- And Ek, worth £4.7bn has announced his desire to buy the club off the American
Spotify founder Daniel Ek has admitted he wants to buy Arsenal from under-fire owner Stan Kroenke.
Arsenal chief Kroenke was the subject of furious protests outside the Emirates Stadium on Friday night following the Gunners’ decision to join the now-defunct European Super League last week.
Swedish businessman Ek, 38, launched Spotify 13 years ago and the music platform is currently worth £58billion and tweeted both his love for Arsenal and his desire to purchase the club.
Spotify founder Daniel Ek has announced his desire to buy Arsenal off Stan Kroenke
Kroenke was the subject of angry protests by Arsenal fans outside the Emirates Stadium
Ek tweeted on Friday night: ‘As a kid growing up, I’ve cheered for @Arsenal as long as I can remember. If KSE would like to sell Arsenal I’d be happy to throw my hat in the ring.
According to Forbes’ rich list, Ek is believed to have a personal worth of around £4.7billion. Arsenal majority shareholder Kroenke is understood to be worth around £1.2bn more than the Swede.
Arsenal fans held up banners before their Premier League fixture with Everton on Friday protesting against Kroenke’s ownership of the club.
The American businessman has been part of the ownership of the club since 2008 but fans have become increasingly frustrated with his lack of investment in the club.
Kroenke’s son, Josh, appeared in a fan’s forum on Thursday night and was ordered by some Gunners fans to sell the club.
Josh Kroenke (L), son of owner Stan (C), faced the music in a grilling with fans on Thursday
Following the European Super League saga, Josh responded: ‘All of our trust was shredded this week, I understand that, but I still believe that we are fit to carry on in our positions as custodians of Arsenal.
‘I might be met with scepticism but over time I hope to establish some sort of relationship with our supporter groups and show them that we are capable of taking the club forward.
‘When are we going to sell? I am not willing to answer that question because we have no intention of selling.’
Graeme Souness believes that, despite Ek’s announcement, Kroenke is under no pressure to sell the club.
‘He’s only got £4bn, it’s not enough,’ he said on Sky Sports. ‘People talk about these absent owners selling. They are under no pressure to sell. They are absent, they don’t turn up to games, they won’t get any face to face criticism.
‘There is only Daniel levy who will get it from the crowds. These guys will come back when it suits them. they won’t sell for a penny less than before all this debacle.’
