More information has emerged about Saudi boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh’s bid to buy Championship club Bristol City.

Bristol City have had an excellent start to their 2025-26 Championship season, going unbeaten in five games and poised to move into the automatic promotion places, but the club may have to brace itself for significant changes if Saudi boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh’s interest in purchasing the club materializes.

Alalshikh’s interest in purchasing the club has been well known for some time, but new information has emerged confirming that this interest has progressed far beyond the stage of idle interest and into something more concrete, with reports indicating that such a takeover may be further advanced than previously thought.

Turki Alalshikh made a flying visit to Bristol City amid acquisition talks.

Last week, journalist Alan Nixon revealed that Alalshikh was close to making a formal bid to buy Bristol City after declaring his interest several months ago.

According to a new update from Nixon, Alalshikh flew to Ashton Gate to meet with the club’s owners and see its facilities.

He also claims that “weeks of behind-the-scenes discussions” have taken place with the club’s present owners, the Lansdown family.

Unsurprisingly, Nixon reports that there should be “no problem” arranging the funds to finance the sale, but he also adds that “the sellers are also comfortable with their plans so far,” indicating that the Lansdowns are more interested in selling Bristol City than previously reported.

Turki Alalshikh might be attracted by the potential of Bristol City.

Bristol City, who face Oxford United at Ashton Gate on Sunday afternoon knowing that a draw will propel them into the Championship’s top two, are at a significant financial disadvantage compared to many of the other clubs vying for promotion because they do not receive parachute payments from the Premier League.

The Robins have not competed in the top division since 1980, but a return could be on the cards. They finished in a play-off spot at the conclusion of 2024-25 before being defeated by Sheffield United in the playoffs, and they have had a solid start to the season this time around.

The reasons for Alalshikh’s interest in Bristol City in particular are unclear, but it was previously reported that he wanted a club in the south of England, putting an end to speculation that he might be interested in troubled Sheffield Wednesday, as Simon Jordan of TalkSport suggested.

It’s possible that he was drawn to the club because of its potential. Bristol is England’s sixth-largest city, and its failure to produce a top-flight team in four and a half decades is somewhat of a statistical outlier.

Alalshikh’s money, along with the excellent foundation that has already been established at Ashton Gate, might provide the momentum to propel the Robins over the finish line, even if their early-season form suggests that they may not even need him to do so.