Tottenham stake deal faces fresh scrutiny over backer’s bankruptcy
Eight Sports Capital’s agreement to buy most of Daniel Levy’s shares in Tottenham Hotspur’s parent company remains uncompleted as trustees seek US recognition of a Hong Kong bankruptcy order against one of the group’s backers.
Trustees have asked a federal bankruptcy court in California to recognise a Hong Kong bankruptcy order against Wing Fai Ng, a financier backing Eight Sports Capital’s proposed investment in Tottenham Hotspur, according to Bloomberg.Ng was declared bankrupt in Hong Kong in April 2025 over debts that creditors put at around HK$31 million, equivalent to almost £3 million, although he appealed the order and US court filings indicate that some of the debts have since been settled.A spokesperson for Ng told Bloomberg that he “rejects the premise” of questions about the bankruptcy order.The October application was filed under Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code, which allows trustees to seek recognition of foreign insolvency proceedings and could, in this case, help them pursue assets in the United States.Separate reporting has identified Ng’s shares in Nasdaq-listed Triller Group as a potential target, although the proceedings concern Ng personally and the effect on the proposed Tottenham investment remains unclear.Eight Sports announced an agreement in June to acquire 24.99% of ENIC, Tottenham’s parent company, from Levy, a transaction that would transfer most of the former chairman’s shares while leaving the Lewis family as ENIC’s majority owner.The agreement followed an unsuccessful approach for control of Tottenham by a vehicle led by Ng, after which attention shifted to Levy’s minority holding following his departure as chairman in September 2025.The price has been reported at more than US$1 billion, but disagreements over how payment would be made are said to have contributed to missed deadlines, with the transaction already stalled before the California filings became public.Eight Sports is also contesting a separate £2.7 million claim from Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer for advice on the Tottenham investment and has asked a court in the British Virgin Islands to set the claim aside.While Levy has been seeking to sell most of his shares, the Lewis family has put further capital into the business through new share issues, reducing his percentage holding in ENIC, according to reports.