Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh is reportedly considering a move to buy Championship side Derby County.
According to TalkSPORT, Alalshikh has been weighing up potential investments in English football for some time and has identified the Rams as a possible option.
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It is not the first time the influential Saudi figure has been linked with an EFL club. He was previously rumoured to be interested in a Championship takeover last year, with Bristol City said to be under consideration.
Derby County are yet to comment on the speculation surrounding a potential sale.
Alalshikh, who heads Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, has prior experience in football ownership. He previously owned Spanish side Almeria before selling the club in May 2025 to fellow Saudi investors – with Cristiano Ronaldo now among the co-owners.
He also had a stint in charge of Egyptian club Pyramids FC.
The 44-year-old is reportedly worth around $2.8billion, with his wealth tied to his government role as well as major involvement in boxing and global sports promotion.
Alalshikh has been a central figure in Saudi Arabia’s rapid rise in boxing, helping deliver blockbuster fights under the Riyadh Season banner – a brand valued at more than $3bn. He has played a key role in organising some of the sport’s biggest bouts since 2023, including the highly anticipated Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua clash.
He is also a co-founder of Zuffa Boxing alongside UFC president Dana White and has worked closely with leading promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren.
Away from sport, Alalshikh is a government minister and adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Derby, meanwhile, are currently owned by local businessman David Clowes, who bought the club for £33million in 2022 and rescued it from financial collapse.
Clowes remains hugely popular with supporters after stabilising the club and steering it out of administration.
Under his ownership, the Rams have rebuilt steadily, winning promotion to the Championship in 2024. After finishing 19th in their first season back, Paul Warne’s side pushed for the play-offs this term, ending eighth – just four points short of the top six.
Any potential takeover would mark another major shift for the East Midlands club as outside investment continues to flow into English football.
