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The Saudi takeover of Newcastle United is expected to be officially announced today after the Gulf state settled its piracy dispute with Premier League broadcast partner beIN Sports and gave assurances over who will control the club.

Sources close to the process have indicated that the lifting of a four-year ban on Qatar-based beIN Sports being shown in Saudi, as well as the removal of all forms of piracy in the country, has paved the way for the £300million deal to be signed off, ending Mike Ashley’s 14-year ownership.

The deal is set to be confirmed later on Thursday, with Ashley having spent much of Wednesday night ironing out the final details. The new owners are ready to get straight to work once the paperwork is complete.

A buy-out was abandoned in the summer of 2020 when the consortium — led by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and including Amanda Staveley and the Reuben brothers — were unable to prove separation between themselves and the Saudi state, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.