February 18 – Birmingham City Women have been sold to the club’s ownership group, Shelby Companies Limited, alongside a group of independent investors that includes former England international Karen Carney and former women’s tennis world No.1 Kim Clijsters, who has taken a minority stake.
Shelby Companies Limited is the holding vehicle through which Knighthead Capital Management controls Birmingham City. According to a club statement, 97% of Birmingham City Women FC has been acquired by the holding company.
The remaining three percent has been purchased by what the club described as “several prominent female business leaders and global professional icons”, with Carney and Clijsters the only individuals named.
The transaction formally separates the women’s side from the men’s team’s operating company and allows a restructuring of ownership of its women’s operation.
Similar moves have been seen elsewhere. Chelsea Women were sold to parent company BlueCo in June 2024 in a deal reportedly valuing the side at around £200 million. Prior to that, Aston Villa Women were transferred to their parent group, V Sports, in a £55 million agreement. Those transactions were widely viewed as mechanisms to bolster revenues and ensure compliance with Premier League profitability and sustainability regulations.
On the pitch, Birmingham City Women are pushing for promotion from the second tier. They currently sit second in the Women’s Super League 2, with automatic promotion to the Women’s Super League available as part of the planned expansion for the 2026-27 campaign.
However, Monday night’s 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace Women has tightened the race significantly. Just one point separates Amy Merricks’ side from Palace, while three points cover City, Bristol City Women and Newcastle United Women.
Under the current structure, the team finishing third in WSL2 will contest a one-off play-off against the bottom club in the Women’s Super League for the final place in next season’s expanded top flight.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1771515570labto1771515570ofdlr1771515570owedi1771515570sni@g1771515570niwe.1771515570yrrah1771515570