
22 January 2025 - 10:14 PM
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IMAGO | In December 2023, Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought a 29 per cent minority stake in Manchester United.
M&A Insights: The rise of smarter, better-prepared football investors is reshaping the market
- Data from Off The Pitch’s M&A Tracker reveals shifts in the football investment landscape, with a decline in majority stake deals from 2023 to 2024 and an increased focus on minority stakes.
- Club valuations and financial sustainability are major barriers to transactions, as highlighted by industry professionals.
- Why it matters: Football investment is transitioning from emotional or opportunistic acquisitions to strategic, well-researched decisions.
- The perspective: The rise of smarter, more intentional investors is reshaping football's M&A market. Clubs that fail to maintain financial transparency and sustainability are finding it harder to secure buyers.
The M&A market in football remains a fascinating field of change and opportunity. Over the past two years, Off The Pitch’s M&A Tracker has observed a consistent number of transactions but the financial and strategic dynamics are evolving.
To better understand these trends, we spoke to industry professionals including AJ Swoboda, Managing Director, at the sports intelligence agency Twenty First Group, which advises sports club owners and investors,
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