Czech billionaire joins West Ham

The Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky has acquired 27 percent of the shares in the Premier League club West Ham United. The club announced on Wednesday. Kretinsky and his colleague Pavel Horsky are now to become members of the board of the traditional London club.

The deal serves to reduce long-term debt and to continue the “positive progress” of recent years, the club said in a statement.

“We are always striving to evolve. Daniel Kretinsky’s commitment brings investments that will strengthen the position of the association and in return support the development of the core areas of West Ham,” said Vice Chairman Karren Brady of the billionaire’s entry. who is already a co-owner of the Czech club Sparta Prague.

Kretinsky himself said that the “development and growth of the club in recent years have been visible to everyone, and I am happy to be part of a very exciting future”.

West Ham is in third place in the Premier League after their 3-2 win against Liverpool FC under team manager Jürgen Klopp on Sunday.