San Francisco 49ers close in on £500m acquisition of Leeds Utd
December 7 – The San Francisco 49ers American Football team reportedly have “a deal in place” to buy English Premier League club Leeds United.
Finance
LaLiga’s disaffected club trio propose alternative €2bn funding backed by JP Morgan
December 3 – At the last minute, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao have presented an alternative solution to LaLiga’s planned $2.3 billion investment from CVC.
FIFA’s biennial World Cup would cost wider world game €8bn in lost revenue, finds report
November 24 – FIFA’s biennial World Cup revolution could cost domestic leagues and European governing body UEFA around €8 billion per season in lost TV rights and commercial revenues, according to a report commissioned by the leagues from KPMG and FTI’s Delta Partners.
Spurs losses near £150m over two covid-hit seasons
By David Owen
November 24 – Tottenham Hotspur, not so long ago the most profitable club in the Premier League, have reported another substantial loss for football’s second heavily covid-19-impacted season.
Brazil’s Serie A considering $1bn offer for 20% stake, reports
November 25 – Brazilian clubs are contemplating a billion-dollar investment from private equity in a bid to take control of their own league.
Paris FC takes on Subaskaran investment as it pushes for Ligue 1 status
November 23 – French second tier club Paris FC, who took a €5 million investment from the Bahrani royal family last year, has added a new investor in British-Sri Lankan entrepreneur Allirajah Subaskaran.
Real Madrid launch €4.5m start-up fund
November 15 – Real Madrid have founded an investment vehicle with the objective of financing 30 start-up businesses.
Italy become third national federations to sign up for crypto-based fan token launch
November 14 – Italy have become the third national federation, Europe’s second, to jump on the blockchain-based Fan Token ‘cryptocurrency’ with Socios.com.
Report finds commercial strength of Big-5 leagues has been covid-resilient
November 12 – While the pandemic managed to kill-off clubs’ match-day revenue streams, a report by KPMG Football Benchmark reports “cautious optimism” for sponsorship income with two of Europe’s Big5 football leagues even reporting year-on-year growth in league-wide commercial revenues.
Kretinsky completes acquisition of £180m+ stake in West Ham
November 11 – Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky has purchased a minority stake in West Ham United, the latest overseas investment in a Premier League club.
CFG targets Russia and opens talks with Spartak Moscow
November 2 – City Football Group (CFG) have reportedly opened negotiations to acquire a 20% stake in Russian club Spartak Moscow.
Fourth tier club Intercity list on Spain’s second tier stock market
November 1 – Intercity de Alicante has become the first Spanish club to list on the stock exchange, trading on the BME Growth market, Spain’s second tier exchange dedicated to small- and medium-sized companies.
LaLiga’s Cadiz builds investor roster with MSA Capital’s Harburg joining board
November 1 – MSA Capital managing partner Ben Harburg has become a new investor at Spanish La Liga club Cadiz. Harburg is reportedly buying a 6% stake in the club.
West Ham owners poised to sell £150m stake to Czech mogul on route to £300m cash-out
October 29 – Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky looks set to take a £150 million, 27%, stake in Premier League West Ham with the option to take full ownership of the in the future.
Inter lose €245m in Serie A winning season. Cost of Covid counted at €110m
October 28 – Inter Milan have formally reported losses of losses of €245.6 million for the covid-impacted 2020/21 season on revenues of €364.7 million.