How much money would Mike Ashley or John Textor need to present in evidence of funds to seal the Sheffield Wednesday takeover?

Administrator Kris Wigfield told the BBC this week that there are “four or five serious bids,” and American billionaire John Textor has indicated interest in the club after his bid to buy Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers was turned down.

According to the Daily Mail, Mike Ashley is also interested and plans to make an official approach to the South Yorkshire club.

One of the most significant components of the upcoming sales process is the verification of financials from any prospective buyer, and a number has been confirmed.

Sheffield Wednesday’s proof of financing numbers

According to recent reports in The Telegraph, Wednesday’s administrators are looking for £50 million in proof of funding from individuals interested in purchasing the club.

According to the Telegraph, the requirement is being communicated to interested parties, with the sum set aside to ‘flush out perceived time-wasters’, but bidders are fearful that the price will rise by tens of millions.

According to the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List, Mike Ashley’s current net worth is expected to be £3.12 billion, while John Textor’s value was characterized as “the range of $75 million to $100 million” and £3.4 billion.

Textor recently sold a stake in Crystal Palace for an estimated £190 million, and his interest in Wednesday, Wolves, and a number of other Championship clubs implies that he is eager to return to English football.

Fans will be distrustful of Textor and Ashley; yet, they will get out of trouble.
Ashley and Textor are no strangers to controversy in English football, and their reputations may impact fan perceptions of a potential takeover.

Ashley is one of the most polarizing individuals in the nation’s sports. Crowd demonstrations, charges of a lack of ambition, and continuous fan discontent characterized his 14-year reign as Newcastle United owner.

Textor has built a portfolio of football clubs representing teams from all around the world. His Eagle Football portfolio includes Lyon, Botafogo, and RWD Molenbeek, as well as Crystal Palace, who he controlled until earlier this year. The primary criticism leveled at his name stems from his multi-club business, which has come under close investigation in France and Brazil.

However, Ashley has a track record of keeping a club alive. His time in the North East was marred by a lack of true improvement; nonetheless, Newcastle never actually got into trouble under his leadership, and his ties with Sports Direct and subsequent rebranding of St James’ Park harmed any chance of building a bond with supporters.

If Wednesday’s officials believe Ashley and Textor are credible and honest, they should have no trouble walking through the door and should be considered the best option for Sheffield Wednesday in the future.