April 15 – US investors are not just looking for deals to buy clubs in Europe. Reports are that American money is positioning to take stakes in clubs in Mexico’s LigaMX and Australia’s A-League.
LigaMX club Necaxa have confirmed they are on the brink of signing a share deal that will sell a 50% stake that values the club “in the low-nine figures”. The investor group is understood to include DC United executive Sam Porter and Mesut Ozil as well as real estate investor Al Tylis, and Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Justin Verlander.
While Mexican football has a huge following in the US as the most watched league on US television, this would be the first time investors from north of the border have bought a significant stake in a top tier club.
Necaxa has said that a deal has been agreed in principle, and that there would be no change in leadership at the club.
“We are planning to be partners with a group with an extensive experience in soccer and in management of top clubs at an international level. This agreement will strengthen our institution and take it to the next level,” said a Necaxa statement.
Necaxa are currently bottom of LigaMX but will retain their status in the top flight as the league has already announced there will be no relegation this season.
Gold mining in Aussie
US-based investors Jordan Gardner and Brett Johnson are said to have signed a letter of intent to buy a stake in Australian A-League side Central Coast Mariners.
Last week Johnson was unveiled as one of three investors who have bought control of English League One team Ipswich Town and is also a part-owner in second-tier US side Phoenix Rising.
Gardner is an investor in Welsh club Swansea City as well as Dundalk in Ireland in the Republic of Ireland. He is also the chairman, and a co-owner at Denmark’s FC Helsingør, an American-owned football club in Denmark.
The plan is to move the Mariners to the expanding Gold Coast if the league and Football Australia agree.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714107595labto1714107595ofdlr1714107595owedi1714107595sni@n1714107595osloh1714107595cin.l1714107595uap1714107595