Cardiff City could be edging closer to a change in the boardroom, with three separate parties now believed to be exploring a potential takeover.
While concrete details about a bid remain scarce, sources have indicated that interest in the club has stepped up in recent weeks following the club's drop into League One. Among the names doing the rounds is a consortium involving the public campaign of Gareth Bale, but two other groups who are both believed to have international backing. The situation remains unclear, but momentum behind a possible ownership shake-up is clearly building after Vincent Tan's 15-year stint to date.
Despite Gareth Bale's public ambition to buy the club, new speculation has emerged within the last few days over social media about potential new parties who are rumoured to be in the running for the ownership of the South Wales outfit. According to WalesOnline, it is understood that there are more interested parties than just Gareth Bale's party, which substantiates these claims.
This is the latest as I understand it. Three parties have registered an interest in Cardiff, including this 'SA-led' consortium.
— Glen Williams (@GlenWilliams12) July 21, 2025
Few things clarified, no meeting in Monaco, no one has toured CCS to kick the tyres. But clearly there is real interest. https://t.co/nTj4QObdpb
#cardiffcityfc well here you go lads & lasses. Your deal is basically done and agreed. Your new owners have met the council, the FAW and everyone else concerned. Tan has agreed to sell. They are even meeting fans on Friday. Deal will be done for the start of the new season .
— Steve Day (@Daya66) July 22, 2025
South African-Led Bid Comes Into Focus
According to sources, one of the interested parties is believed to be a South African consortium headed by South-African-born investor Garry Otto, who currently owns a stake in the recently relegated League Two side Sutton United. Additionally, an Instagram account believed to be linked to Gary has recently followed Cardiff City and the current head coach Brian Barry-Murphy on the platform.
Otto has made his name and wealth in the real estate market and has a passion for football and finding opportunities to invest in the sport through his strong financial position. Gary has said in a profile of himself published by YardStrength, that he had ownership attempts rebuffed by Leeds United, Coventry City and MK Dons and European clubs such as Le Havre, Nancy and Lugano FC.
Furthermore, Otto is believed to be part of a bigger group who are interested in the ownership of the club, not just as a sole investor.
Mystery Third Party and Monaco Meeting Claims
Aside from Gareth Bale's consortium and the Garry Otto claims, there is also a third party believed to be interested in acquiring Cardiff, however, the details of this are unclear at the moment. Whether it is a group investment in the style of Bale / Otto ownership attempt or just one entity investing is yet to be unearthed.
Moreover, there have been rumours swirling on social media around a potential secret meeting held in Monaco between the South African consortium and Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman. However, according to WalesOnline, these rumours are believed to be wide of the mark and the Cardiff hierarchy has stated that there are no meetings in place this week for those type of discussions.
Cardiff Awaits Clarity
There’s little doubt that genuine interest in buying Cardiff City is bubbling beneath the surface. However, as we understand no formal offers have been put forward to the Cardiff hierarchy yet. If a formal bid is to be submitted, this will mark the start of a rigorous process of passing the EFL's financial checks in order to establish who is behind the money being put forward.
Ultimately, time will tell on whether an acceptable bid arrives at Vincent Tan's desk and he believes that a potential party will be able to lead Cardiff City forwards.
