January 4 – Pacific Media Group have acquired AS Nancy, the French Ligue 2 outfit who will become the fourth club in Chinese-American consortium’s portfolio.
The club confirmed that Jacques Rousselot sold AS Nancy to Chien Lee and Pacific Media Group, with Gauthier Ganaye becoming the new president at the French club. Ganaye is already chairman at KV Oostende in Belgium, one of four clubs now part of the group. Barnsley, in the England’s Championship, and second tier Swiss team FC Thun are also in the Pacific Media Group portfolio.
“Discussions with AS Nancy have been going on for several months and they ended on the last day of the year,” said Ganaye in a statement on the KV Oostende website.
“This does not mean that I will quit or reduce my tasks in Ostend. The fact that a new club is added to the consortium also means more sporting and economic possibilities for the KVO.”
He added: “I am delighted to be working again in France within a historic club which has a very special place in French football. It is with great humility that I succeed Jacques Rousselot, a true figure of French football since decades and driven by human values in which I find myself.”
With the acquisition by Pacific Media Group, Nancy becomes the 9th club in Ligue 2 to be foreign-owned: Le Havre, Caen and Toulouse have American owners; Bahrain hold a 20% stake in Paris FC while the UAE’s City Football Group own Troyes AC. Both Sochaux and Auxerre are in Chinese hands. In 2019, Swiss Ahmet Schaefer, a former assistant of Sepp Blatter, completed a deal for Clermont.
Currently United Group and Prince Abdullah bin Mosa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, owner of Sheffield United, are in talks with Châteauroux for a potential takeover.
No figure was given for the AS Nancy acquisition.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713257718labto1713257718ofdlr1713257718owedi1713257718sni@o1713257718fni1713257718