Gareth Bale holds talks to purchase shares in a Football League club - Fan Banter
You read that right, the former footballer is reportedly fronting a US-based private equity group’s potential takeover of Plymouth Argyle, who were recently relegated from the Championship.
The group includes the American Storch family and talks are ongoing for full control of the club, following a trend of US investors partnering with high-profile figures, like Luka Modric at Swansea City and Tom Brady at Birmingham City.
It has been well publicised that Argyle’s chairman, Simon Hallett, is seeking investment for over a year after a previous deal collapsed.
And now, with the club led by new head coach Tom Cleverley, the takeover bid is being backed by existing shareholders for the upcoming season, matching the funding planned with the failed investor.
Excl: Gareth Bale is fronting a takeover bid of Plymouth Argyle with a US private equity firm. Former Real Madrid & Tottenham star is the high-profile member of the group, with his involvement similar to Luka Modric & Swansea. Story with @Tom_Morgs #pafc https://t.co/YKywE9fZob
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) June 16, 2025
Argyle chairman Simon Hallett previously announced that an investment proposal had fallen through.
“We have been in talks with a prospective new investor in our club for over a year – those talks led to an application for approval of that investment being lodged with the EFL in February,”
“Unfortunately, negotiations have taken too long and the key information that both we and the EFL required to complete the deal has not been forthcoming. I no longer believe that news of the new investor is imminent.”
Hallett added that he and the club’s existing shareholders – Argyle Green and the Holliday family – would match the level of funding they had planned with the new investor for this season, a level he says is twice the budget Plymouth had when they won promotion from League One in 2023.
: Someone check on @ArgyleMemes
: Great great move by Bale. Plymouth is probably the only big city in England to never have been in the Premier League. Sad Miron’s left tho. A massive club with massive potential.
: Sorry WHAT!?!?!?!
: half expecting Niko Kranjcar to buy a stake at Barnsley at this rate
: Is it April the 1st 😅
: Great great move by Bale. Plymouth is probably the only big city in England to never have been in the Premier League. Sad Miron’s left tho. A massive club with massive potential.
: Oh my fucking god I used to pray for times like this
: I’ve always been a fan of Gareth Bale you know 👀 This is quite incredible #pafc
: Honestly imagine supporting anyone else. It’s never boring supporting Argyle 🤣 #pafc
: Another totally normal day supporting Argyle… #pafc
: This was not on my Argyle 2025 bingo card… WHAT IS THIS MADNESS 🤣🤣🤣 #pafc
: Wtf is this
: I refuse to get excited with this sort of news after the amount of times we’ve been let down 🤣 #pafc
: From administration and the brink of collapse in 2011 to links with billionaire takeovers with Gareth Bale in 2025. Plymouth Argyle 💚
: Don’t get excited, don’t get excited…
: Cleverley’s first job should be getting Randell to stay by showing him his vision on how he plans to use him in midfield. Bale’s first job should be getting Hardie to stay by playing a few rounds with him down Central Park pitch n putt.
: What could possibly go wrong…
: Just won the fucking lottery
: Hopefully comes to something however good the current stewardship of Argyle has been overall. The potential for Argyle has always been there and unlike Wrexham, Bournemouth, Swansea etc we could pull 30-40,000 a week in premier league. Let us dream for a while #pafc
: How have we gone from Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle to Gareth Bale’s Plymouth Argyle in 12 months then..
: I’ve told you before – players think our club is a laughing stock. Gareth Bale is a prime example of that and also Ramsey.
: Pull this off and we’re fucking huge #pafc
: One day of peace and quiet all I ask Argyle 😂 Wouldn’t have it any other way though 💚 #pafc
@ArgyleLife1886: Before getting too carried away – I hope whatever happens Simon Hallett stays on in some capacity. We’ve not agreed with everything, sure, but Simon and Jane have done wonders for our club – the best custodians we’ve ever had 💚 Find it interesting that Cardiff born Gareth Bale hasn’t tempted them to fund a fellow League One side who could most definitely do with a takeover. But actually, do I care? No.
@NP18_: I can’t say this was on my bingo card for this year, but it’s great to see ex-players getting involved in the game in another capacity 👏 #pafc
“Which also includes members of the American-based Storch family”
They’re only worth around 1.8bn
😮💨#pafc pic.twitter.com/TDXRkmaTaX
— GM (@Element_M1ller) June 16, 2025
— Lewis Tinker (@lewis_tinker) June 16, 2025
https://t.co/jAFfxwaCQ7 pic.twitter.com/XNThtfjEYS
— Nathan (@nathan__symons) June 16, 2025
Me: ahh June perfect time to go on holiday for two weeks, no football to worry about and when we get back it will be time for the fixtures..
Argyle: #pafc pic.twitter.com/guXxVOnvUE
— Jodz (@jodie_pafc) June 16, 2025
Ryan Hardie after signing a contract with another club realising he could’ve been on 150K a week with Gareth Bale’s Argyle#pafc pic.twitter.com/NYnThsC0YC
— argyletweets (@argyletweet) June 16, 2025
