October 11 – Armed with their new global head of soccer Jurgen Klopp, Red Bull are poised to add a sixth club to their growing football ownership portfolio as the Austrian energy drink giants eye a position in Ligue 2 club Paris FC.
Paris FC’s majority shareholder, Pierre Ferracci, will sell a controlling stake (55-56%) to the Arnault family, led by Bernard Arnault, while Red Bull will acquire approximately 15%, according to L’Equipe. Ferracci is expected to retain around 30% of the club.
The deal reportedly values the club at €90 million.
Though the deal is still pending completion, the agreement strengthens Red Bull’s expanding multi-club ownership model by adding a Ligue 2 team to its growing football portfolio. It is the Arnault family’s first venture into football club ownership.
Having been quiet on the football front since acquiring Brazilian cub RB Bragantino in 2019, Red Bull’s football operations have burst into life in recent months, securing an undisclosed minority ownership of Leeds United in the summer – attaining front-of-shirt sponsor rights in the process.
They now look poised to add a sixth team in yet another country in the form of Paris FC, viewed as a bit of a sleeping giant if it was to be treated with real investment like its A-list neighbours PSG.
Pending completion, the deal will see the club join RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg, New York Red Bulls, RB Bragantino and Leeds United as a member of Red Bull’s diverse football ownership portfolio.
In a significant development earlier this week, Red Bull appointed Jurgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, as its global head of soccer, effective January 1, 2025, further underlining their ambitions.
The former Liverpool and BVB coach not involved in day-to-day operations but will advise teams such as Paris FC on playing philosophy, transfer strategy and coaching development.
The change in ownership at Paris FC is expected to mark a turning point for the Ligue 2 club, with ambitions to rise to Ligue 1 and challenge the dominance of neighbours PSG.
Red Bull club ownership
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1728664027labto1728664027ofdlr1728664027owedi1728664027sni@g1728664027niwe.1728664027yrrah1728664027