England: Reading FC (Sky Bet Championship) sold to Thai businessman

An agreement for the sale of Reading FC (Sky Bet Championship, the French second division) was signed between Thai businessman Sumrit Bunditkrisada and Sir John Madejski, the club's president, on 16/06/2014. British media estimated the sale at £35m (about €43.7m) for a 90% share in the club.

The sale of the club still needs to be approved by Football League, which will decide if the takeover by Sumrit Bunditkrisada would pose a risk to the club. If the league approves the sale, Bunditkrisada will become the second Thai owner of an English club, after Leicester (promoted to the Premier League in 2014-15), which is owned by the King Power group.

Madejski has been the club president since 1990. In May 2012, he had sold a 51% stake in the club to businessman Anton Zingarevich (Russia), who was to buy the remaining 49% in September 2013, but reneged on the agreement and did not attend any games during the 2013-14 season. Madejski, who took over the daily management of the club in February 2014, confirmed the departure of Zingarevich to the club's board on 02/06/2014.