Who is Daniel Ek? The Spotify supremo linked with Arsenal takeover

Who is Daniel Ek? The Spotify supremo linked with Arsenal takeover

By Peter White

While Arsenal may have tentatively taken a step back from their European Super League commitments last week, the fallout from the debacle is far from over, with current owner Stan Kroenke under mounting pressure from fans to sell the club. 

Several thousand supporters flocked to the Emirates ahead of Friday night’s home defeat against Everton, protesting against the American billionaire businessman and the rest of the Arsenal hierarchy for their involvement in the highly controversial ESL scheme. 

Alongside Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham, the Gunners had earlier reversed their decision to join six other high-profile European clubs in the proposed competition that was met with widespread condemnation. 

Despite director Josh Kroenke and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham issuing apologies for Arsenal’s involvement, such a move marked the tip of the iceberg for many Arsenal fans, who feel that now is the time for Kroenke senior to move on after ten years of largely unsuccessful ownership. 

It remains to be seen whether the actions of the Emirates faithful will have the desired effect, with one stumbling block said to be the £2bn+ fee that Kroenke - who became the sole owner of Arsenal in 2018 when he paid Alisher Usmanov £550 million for his 30 per cent stake - would be looking for. 

But one man capable of coughing up that kind of cash has already expressed his interest in taking charge, with Spotify owner Daniel Ek supposedly preparing a bid that could involve club legends Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira. 

Sweden-born Arsenal fan Ek sparked excitement amidst the fans’ protests by tweeting: “As a kid growing up, I’ve cheered for Arsenal as long as I can remember. If KSE would like to sell Arsenal I’d be happy to throw my hat into the ring.” 

Though many dismissed the suggestion Ek was serious it appears he has ramped up his interest over the weekend, while the potential collaboration with three of the biggest stars in Arsenal’s history has served to whet many an appetite. 

With all this in mind, we’ve taken a look at what we know about the prospective new man in charge, and whether or not we can realistically expect anything to advance over the coming weeks and months. 

What do we know about him?

Born in Stockholm in February 1983, Ek starting his first business making websites for clients aged 13 and has since gone on to become the co-founder and CEO of global music streaming giant Spotify. 

Named as the most powerful person in the music industry by Billboard in 2017, it seems the 38-year-old - who has supposedly invested around €1bn of his wealth into technology companies - is ready to venture into the sporting world for the first time. 

While Spotify is supposedly valued in the region of £51.9bn, Ek’s personal fortune sits at around the £3.4bn mark, meaning he is suitably equipped to take over from Kroenke in the owner’s chair. 

Alongside the strength of his financial standing it is said that Ek fell in love with Arsenal due to the exploits of the club’s former Swedish midfielder Anders Limpar, suggesting he would have the Gunners’ best interests at heart if he was in control.

What’s the proposal?

While still at a very early stage it is understood Ek has already made initial inquiries about whether such a move could feasibly come off, while approaching Henry, Bergkamp and Vieira for their help. 

Henry was vocal in his criticism of the current regime following the ESL episode, telling the Telegraph: “They have been running the club like a company, not a football club, and they showed their hand. 

“Maybe it's a lack of understanding of the core football values and maybe the money was too big of a temptation. But whatever it was, they got it wrong. Badly wrong. 

“I have never talked before, but what happened recently made me realise fans, this is your club. It is your club and I'm an Arsenal fan too.” 

While a shift from the Kroenke-led setup to a line-up featuring three Invincibles under the wing of an Arsenal fan could be conceived as a dream scenario, it has been suggested that the fans are desperate to have their say in an official capacity, too. 

A fan-led review into football governance could strengthen the supporters’ chances of having their voices heard going forward, and many members of the Emirates faithful will be hoping it is Ek et al. listening at the top of the tree. 

Will it happen?

The simple answer is that it is too early to say. The Kroenkes have shown no willingness to sell so far, highlighted by Josh Kroenke’s appearance at a fans’ forum last week when he played down the possibility of his family walking away. 

Having said that, the backlash to English clubs’ involvement in the ESL has supposedly made owners across the board stand up and take stock, with the Glazers at Manchester United having set an asking price in response to fans’ protests for change. 

In addition, Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol indicated that a consortium involving the likes of Henry, Bergkamp and Vieira could be among those more likely to be successful in persuading Kroenke to surrender control. 

There remains plenty of ifs and buts and there’s certainly a long way to go before we’ll know anything for definite. But there is enough in this one so far to render it a possibility, so don’t give up hope just yet.

Photo Credit: Getty Images