[MONEY MATTERS] Eight of the English Premier League’s 20 teams are owned by foreigners, none a heavier hitter than the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment that has signed a memorandum of understanding with former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra for the sale of Manchester City. Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment is a holding company worth almost a trillion dollars and controlled by Sheik Mansur bin Zayed al-Nahyan. It’s first order of business was to sign Robinho for a British record $65 million from Real  Madrid.

Here are some other Premier League clubs who now have foreign owners.

ASTON VILLA. American billionaire Randy Lerner bought Villa last September for 62.6 million pounds ($122.5 million) after securing the required 90 percent of the Birmingham club’s shares.

CHELSEA. In July 2003, Russian businessman Roman Abramovich bought the company that owned Chelsea, which was valued at nearly 60 million pounds ($99.50 million).

FULHAM. In 1997, Egyptian-born businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, owner of top London department store Harrods, invested 30 million pounds ($49 million) in Fulham and took over as chairman.

LIVERPOOL. In 2006, U.S. sports owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks acquired the Reds for 174 million pounds ($340 million).

MANCHESTER CITY. In July 2007, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra bought City for 81 million pounds ($146.3 million).

MANCHESTER UNITED. U.S. financier Malcolm Glazer, owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, completed the takeover of United for 790 million pounds ($1.41 billion) in August 2005.

PORTSMOUTH. Alexandre Gaydamak, a Russian-born French national, acquired full control of Portsmouth in July 2006 from Serbian-American chairman Milan Mandaric for about 32 million pounds ($58.46 million). Gaydamak’s initial investment had been reported at 15 million pounds ($24.5 million).

WEST HAM. A consortium led by Iceland soccer federation president and UEFA member Eggert Magnusson took over West Ham in November 2006 in a deal valued at 85 million pounds ($161.3 million).