A new world record is on the verge of being set in sports. The current owners of the NFL's Washington Commanders, Daniel and Tanya Snyder, are reportedly closing on an agreement to sell the team for $6.05 billion to an investment group led by sports entrepreneur Josh Harris and also including former NBA player Magic Johnson. It would be the biggest purchase in sports history.
According to sources close to the deal, there is already an unsigned preliminary agreement in place. This implies that Daniel and Tanya Snyder could still receive a higher offer from Harris. The investor is the owner of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, the NHL's New Jersey Devils and a minority owner of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers.
Breaking: Dan and Tanya Snyder have a preliminary non-exclusive agreement to sell the Commanders to Josh Harris' group for a record $6.05 billion, sources told @AdamSchefter.
The deal is fully financed but not signed, meaning another group could still come in and buy the team. pic.twitter.com/GYq9ewp43H
— ESPN (@espn) April 13, 2023
The most expensive sports team sale in history
The sale of the Washington Commanders would be the largest in history. Last year saw the previous high in the NFL. Walmart heir Rob Walton acquired Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion.
Outside of the NFL, the most expensive sale in history before the Washington Commanders is made official was that of English Premier League team Chelsea. Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich sold the soccer team to U.S. businessman Todd Boehly for about $5.3 billion in May 2022