Two high-profile owners from the English Premier League are among the leading figures expressing interest in purchasing the San Diego Padres, as the franchise’s sale emerges as a critical benchmark for Major League Baseball valuations.
According to sources familiar with the process, Dan Friedkin—owner of Everton and AS Roma through Pursuit Sports—and José E. Feliciano, co-founder of Clearlake Capital and a major backer of Chelsea, are actively engaged in the Padres’ sale discussions. Both parties declined to comment publicly, as did the Padres and BDT & MSD, the boutique investment bank hired in November to oversee the sale.
They are not alone. Golden State Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob has also been linked to the process, signaling what could become a competitive bidding environment for one of MLB’s most valuable franchises.
Sportico currently values the Padres at $2.31 billion, a 14% year-on-year increase driven by strong on-field performance and commercial growth. The club drew 3.44 million fans in 2025, second only to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and generated more than $500 million in gross revenue. A sale near or above the MLB record of $2.42 billion—set by Steve Cohen’s purchase of the New York Mets in 2020—is viewed as a realistic possibility.
Industry observers see the Padres transaction as a litmus test for baseball ownership economics. MLB franchises currently trade at a 6.6x revenue multiple, the lowest among the five major U.S. sports leagues, and investors believe structural reforms could unlock higher valuations. However, looming labor negotiations—with fears of disruptions in the 2027 season—add uncertainty.
Feliciano’s potential bid would be made through his family office alongside his wife, Kwanza Jones, continuing their growing involvement in professional and women’s sports. If successful, Feliciano—born in Puerto Rico—would become only the second MLB control owner of Latin descent, joining Angels owner Arte Moreno.
Friedkin, whose business empire spans automobiles, hospitality, and sports, has expanded aggressively in recent years. After acquiring Everton in late 2024, he consolidated his sports holdings under Pursuit Sports and has been linked to potential NBA, NHL, and MLB opportunities.
The Padres were formally put up for sale in November 2025, following internal legal disputes within the family of late owner Peter Seidler, who died in 2023. While Seidler’s widow, Sheel Kamal Seidler, had sued his brothers over trust management, recent court filings indicate that most claims have now been dismissed, potentially clearing a path for a smoother sale process.
The current ownership group, which purchased the Padres for $800 million in 2012, includes more than ten stakeholders. The Peter Seidler Trust holds the largest single share at approximately 24%, with Sheel and her three children as beneficiaries.
As interest from global sports investors intensifies, the Padres’ sale is shaping up to be one of the most consequential ownership transactions in modern MLB history.
