Private Equity

Private equity has stakes in more than a third of Europe’s top football clubs

Deal value in Europe’s 'Big Five' football leagues has ballooned over the past five years

Clearlake Capital's Behdad Eghbali, co-owner of Chelsea, and Todd Boehly, chair of Chelsea, join forces at Stamford Bridge
Clearlake Capital's Behdad Eghbali, co-owner of Chelsea, and Todd Boehly, chair of Chelsea, join forces at Stamford Bridge Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images

The private markets industry has acquired ownership stakes in more than a third of all of Europe’s top football clubs, according to a new report that sheds light on how buyout bosses have been quietly muscling in on the world’s most popular sport.

Across the top leagues in Europe’s ‘Big Five’ countries — England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany — some 35.7% of clubs now have private equity, venture capital or private debt investors at the club-ownership level.

WSJ Logo
Pro Bono or Pro Nono? Law Firms Split on Fulfilling Deals With TrumpExternal link

Pro Bono or Pro Nono? Law Firms Split on Fulfilling Deals With Trump