Fans on social media react after Derby County confirm that Saudi Arabian takeover plans fall through, with the deal signed off.
Despite approval from the Independent Football Regulator and the EFL, the club have since been told that Lion Sport are no longer wanting to continue with the purchase.
CLUB STATEMENT: The club can confirm discussions with Lion Sport to buy a controlling interest in Derby County will no longer proceed.
The purchase process had been sanctioned by both the Independent Football Regulator and the EFL, notification of which the club received last… pic.twitter.com/LjMFVifm6u
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) August 10, 2026
Derby County OFF the market after Saudi Arabian takeover falls through.
The deal was signed off by the Independent Football Regulator and previous the EFL.
This morning the club received notice that Lion Sport no longer wanted to continue with the purchase.#DCFC pic.twitter.com/SXmrVsWgyq
— BBC Sport Derby (@BBCDerbySport) August 10, 2026
A club statement read: The club can confirm discussions with Lion Sport to buy a controlling interest in Derby County will no longer proceed.
The purchase process had been sanctioned by both the Independent Football Regulator and the EFL, notification of which the club received last week.
However, today the club received notice that Lion Sport no longer wanted to continue with the purchase.
For the benefit of any doubt, the club is now off the market and will continue to operate under the loyal, committed and unwavering support of Clowes Developments.
Our preparations continue for the new EFL season, beginning against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
The club will offer no further comment.
Here’s how fans reacted
@Chaz99: Banter Era well and truly back
@thesam141: Ffs is this some sort of fucking joke all that time not buying players holding out for fucking nothing
@cortexdcfc: Near enough an entire transfer window lost waiting for this, phenomenal
@TJ_DCFC: Witnessed the game Saturday and thought fuck it 😂😂
@ross_knight98: He definitely watched the game on Saturday and realised not even his money can save us 😭😭😭
@brandonj04_: Absolute worst case scenario. Disaster.
@philjones66: That’s us fucked this season then… great
@AngloSaxon85: Get your tin hats on, we’re about to get the absolute piss shredded out of us…
@archiegh_: Hahaha. So typical. U Rammmsss 🐏 Want to see the club progress but, more importantly, needs to be under the right people. As much as we’re probably in for a fairly middling season, at least Clowes always has our best interests at heart. Hands clean of the Saudi money for now.
@1805cam: Sooner everyone realises this club will never have anything nice the better
@dcfc_connor: If you expect disappointment you can never be disappointed. But it’s literally Monday and I already give up with this week long old season ahead better get moving and fast …. #dcfc #dcfcfans
@jmDCFC: Cool. Was exciting while it lasted. But Clowes is the one with the club at heart, and the one who’s managed to build an exciting and attractive infrastructure, from scratch
