The 'secret' fee paid to controversial Saudi 'influencer' in Newcastle United takeover

An Instagram influencer and former Kardashians producer was allegedly paid more than £2m for Newcastle United's takeover due to her relationship with Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

Carla DiBello received the fee from United co-owner Amanda Staveley for the purchase of the club by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in 2021, according to The Telegraph.

The American has a close relationship with the now-Newcastle chairman Al-Rumayyan and has now been named in the High Court battle between Mike Ashley and Staveley concerning the takeover.

In 2020, The Wall Street Journal broke the story of PIF's initial interest in the club and explained how DiBello pitched United to the wealth fund. At the time, her influence with Al-Rumayyan was drawing a lot of scrutiny in Saudi.

Since the deal, DiBello has remained influential across the Middle East and is also thought to be close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

And now according to court filings, Ashley was informed an "introducer" to the Saudis required payment months before the takeover was completed. It was eventually made clear this was DiBello.

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Staveley allegedly told one of Ashely's representatives: “Ms DiBello did not play any substantive role… but instead received payment due to her relationship with the head of PIF, Yasir Al-Rumayyan”.

So now Mike Ashley claims the payment to the former Keeping Up With the Kardashians producer was an improper use of the loan he provided to Staveley for “costs and expenses incurred by the borrower and their subsidiaries in relation to the acquisition”.

The legal battle between Ashely and Staveley concerns the £10m loan he gave to her as part of Newcastle United's takeover in 2021. The former owner sued Staveley in 2022 after he alleged she broke the conditions of the deal by briefing the media against him and using it as a means to put commercial pressure on him.

Staveley repaid the loan plus £600k interest in October 2023, but the Sports Direct owner is continuing his pursuit of High Court action.