Delia Smith Sells Norwich City Stake After 27 Years

Delia Smith has made a significant change in her long association with Norwich City, as she has sold her controlling stake in the club after 27 years of leadership.

The buyer is Norfolk Holdings, an American-led group headed by Mark Attanasio. They are set to take on the club’s debt, which amounts to around £59 million.

Attanasio will own 85 percent of the club, while Smith and her husband, Michael Wynn Jones, will keep 10 percent but will not receive any money from the sale. The couple believes this move is crucial for ensuring the club’s financial stability in the future.

Delia and Michael first connected with the Norfolk Holdings group back in 2022. They feel this new arrangement is well-structured to secure the club’s future and will allow for a smooth transition.

Smit has been a significant figure at Norwich since she bought the team in 1997, just after they were relegated from the Premier League. She quickly took on the role of improving matchday catering at the club.

Throughout her time with the Canaries, she has seen many ups and downs, including a drop to the third tier back in 2009. On the flip side, Norwich has also experienced promotion to the Premier League five times under her guidance.

Norwich released a statement highlighting that Delia and Michael have always acted in the club’s best interests when deciding to pass on control.

Once the deal is approved by shareholders, Delia will step down from her director role and become an honorary president, while Attanasio will maintain his position as a director.

Norfolk Holdings had previously purchased a 15.9 percent stake in the club last September, which they increased to 40.4 percent in April, and now they hold the majority shares.