Tottenham Hotspur have publicly rejected suggestions the club could be up for sale following the departure of chairman Daniel Levy. Levy’s exit prompted speculation over the club’s long-term ownership and several media reports of potential takeover interest.

Reports identified approaches from a group led by Amanda Staveley and from a Chinese consortium fronted by Dr Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng. Coverage also said ENIC, the majority owner, had been contacted about selling its 87% stake in the club. The Telegraph report the proposals were made after Levy’s exit was formalised.

The club and its majority shareholder responded with a firm denial of any intention to consider offers. The official statement was published in full and reads:

“The Board of Tottenham Hotspur Limited is aware of recent media speculation and confirms that its majority shareholder, ENIC Sports & Developments Holdings Ltd, has received, and unequivocally rejected, separate preliminary expressions of interest in relation to proposals to acquire the entire issued, and to be issued, share capital of ENIC from (i) PCP International Finance Limited; and (ii) a consortium of investors led by Dr. Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng through Firehawk Holdings Limited,” a statement read.

“As a consequence of ENIC’s majority ownership interest in Tottenham Hotspur, were any offer made to acquire ENIC and complete, a mandatory offer would be required under Rule 9 of the Code to acquire the shares of Tottenham Hotspur not already held by ENIC.

“The Board of the Club and ENIC confirm that Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale and ENIC has no intention to accept any such offer to acquire its interest in the Club.”

Having now been named as interested parties, Staveley’s group are expected to release a statement confirming they will not place a formal bid. The club’s response leaves ENIC as the confirmed long-term majority owner and closes the door on reported approaches that followed Levy’s departure.

Several high-profile squad issues from the summer transfer period remain unresolved as windows in other countries stay open. A number of players who sought moves during the summer have seen potential destinations narrow, but transfers are still possible.

Emiliano Martínez looked to have said farewell to Aston Villa supporters at the end of last season but did not complete a move and now faces an uncomfortable return. He was linked with Manchester United late in the window, but United signed Senne Lammens instead. Martínez has been connected with the Saudi Pro League and could still be a target there; Galatasaray are another reported option after failing to sign Éderson.

André Onana has not actively pursued an exit and is content at Manchester United, yet the arrival of Lammens has altered the goalkeeper pecking order. Onana has been replaced by Altay Bayındır for all three of United’s Premier League matches this season and only featured in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town. A move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia remains a possibility if offers appear.

Tyrell Malacia was the only member of Manchester United’s so-called ‘bomb squad’ who did not secure an exit, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony all leaving. A late loan to Elche fell through and the left back is currently in limbo, with first-team minutes at Old Trafford unlikely.

Raheem Sterling’s loan at Arsenal diminished his standing and a permanent exit from Chelsea did not materialise despite reported interest, including from Fulham. Sterling has never played abroad and, given Chelsea’s reported weekly wage commitment, a move away will be costly for the club if they fail to shift him.

Axel Disasi arrived at Chelsea from Monaco for £39 million but fell down the pecking order under Enzo Maresca and spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa. Villa declined to sign him permanently and links to Bournemouth and Monaco did not progress. Chelsea continue to pay his reported wages and clubs in Turkey, Portugal or Saudi Arabia could offer a solution.

Yves Bissouma has been marginalised since Thomas Frank’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur and was even omitted from the club’s league phase Champions League squad. Reports link him with interest from Turkey and Saudi Arabia as Spurs seek to recoup a fee before his contract runs down next summer.

Jamaal Lascelles has been pushed further down the pecking order at Newcastle United following the signing of Malick Thiaw. He has not featured this season, though he was on the bench for the goalless draw at Leeds United, and The Athletic reports Newcastle may allow him to leave this summer despite the domestic deadline.

Chick King. Beavertown. “We want Levy Out!” Those refrains and the rush for the train home were fixtures of matchday life in N17 as Daniel Levy’s near-25-year stewardship came to an end.

Levy arrived alongside the ENIC Group in 2001 when the club was valued at around £80 million. The chairman’s commercial acumen transformed that position. In May 2025 Spurs were rated the ninth most valuable club in the world at £2.6 billion by Forbes and were generating over £500 million in annual revenue. At 63, Levy departs having overseen a financial and infrastructural rebuild that altered the club’s scale.

Yet the record on the pitch divided opinion. During his tenure Tottenham lifted just two pieces of silverware, including last season’s Europa League, won in Bilbao with a 1–0 victory over Manchester United. There is a clear contrast between Levy the businessman and Levy the football operator.

Transfermarkt records that only six clubs have posted a greater net spend in European football since ENIC took over, but the chairman’s strict wage framework often steered recruitment toward emerging talent rather than established stars. That pattern showed in key moments. Midway through 2011–12, Harry Redknapp’s side were in title contention but transfer targets such as Álvaro Negredo, Fernando Llorente and Giuseppe Rossi did not materialise; instead Louis Saha arrived and Ryan Nelsen was signed to cover William Gallas’s injury. Spurs finished fourth but missed Champions League qualification after Chelsea’s triumph in Munich.

The Gareth Bale era yielded funds that produced Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela among seven arrivals. Mauricio Pochettino later galvanised the squad, which finished the final season at White Hart Lane unbeaten and then endured almost two full campaigns at Wembley. The debt from the stadium project contributed to a summer of 2018 with no incoming players.

Post-Pochettino, José Mourinho and Antonio Conte brought brief highs but no trophies. Ange Postecoglou, the 13th manager under Levy, delivered the Europa League yet was dismissed two weeks after the 1–0 win over Manchester United. Levy’s exit came amid a wider ENIC restructure and questions about the club’s poorest league campaign in almost 50 years. Supporters largely celebrated his departure, even as the structures he put in place leave Spurs a supergiant waiting to explode, for better or worse.