Spotify billionaire Daniel Ek serious about Arsenal purchase and tells Kroenkes to sell up

Spotify’s Billionaire CEO Daniel Ek says he’s ‘very serious’ and has ‘secured the funds’ to buy Arsenal from the Kroenkes, as he claims to be a ‘fan for 30 years’ (but doesn’t even follow them on Twitter!)

  • Daniel Ek has reiterated his ambition to buy Arsenal from owner Stan Kroenke
  • American billionaire says he has been a fan of the Gunners since the age of eight
  • He wants the owners to ‘hear him out’ despite Kroenke’s refusal to sell the club 
  • Ek, who is worth £3.4billion, is prepared to make them an offer of £1.8bn 
  • He seldom posts about the club on Twitter and doesn’t follow their account 

Daniel Ek says he has secured the funds to launch his bid to buy Arsenal and spoken of his desire to bring the glory days back to the club.

Spotify owner and co-founder Ek revealed his plans to try and buy his boyhood club from Stan Kroenke and is determined to test the American billionaire’s resolve despite the Arsenal owner’s insistence that he has no intention of selling.

Speaking for the first posting a tweet about his interest last Friday, Swedish billionaire Ek told CNBC: ‘I’ve been an Arsenal fan since I was 8 years old. Arsenal is my team. I live the history, the players, and of course I love the fans.

Spotify owner and co-founder Daniel Ek has spoken about his plans to buy Arsenal

Ek, who is worth around £3.4billion, was grilled on CNBC about his ambition to buy Arsenal

Ek, who is worth around £3.4billion, was grilled on CNBC about his ambition to buy Arsenal

‘So as I look at that I just see a tremendous opportunity to set a real vision for the club, to bring it back to its glory. 

‘I want to establish trust with the fans and engage the fans again. So, I’m very serious. I have secured the funds for it and I want to bring what I think is a very compelling offer to the owners and I hope they hear me out.’

Ek, who is worth around £3.4bn, is ready to make an offer of £1.8bn for the north Londoners.

But he doesn’t even follow Arsenal’s Twitter account and rarely posts about his favourite team on the social platform. 

Kroenke and his director son Josh outlined their not-for-sale stance in a statement on Tuesday but Ek said: ‘As I started out saying I’ve been a fan for 30 years of this club and I certainly didn’t expect this would happen overnight and I’m prepared that this could be a long journey.

Ek has enlisted Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira (left to right) to help his bid

Ek has enlisted Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira (left to right) to help his bid

Current Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has reaffirmed his stance on not selling the football club

Current Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has reaffirmed his stance on not selling the football club

Ek has rarely tweeted about Arsenal and doesn't follow the club's official account

Ek has rarely tweeted about Arsenal and doesn’t follow the club’s official account

‘All I can do is prepare what I think is a very thoughtful offer, bring it to them and hope they hear me out.

‘I just focus on the club, the fans and I focus on trying to bring the club back to glory and I’m first and foremost a fan. 

‘That’s the most important thing for me and I want the club to do better. That’s my primary interest.’

Arsenal fans protested against Kroenke's running of the club after the Super League saga

Arsenal fans protested against Kroenke’s running of the club after the Super League saga