Qatari owners of PSG sell minority stake in French club

Photo by Naoki Morita/Aflo SPORT

The Qatari owners of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will sell a minority stake in the French football club to US investment group Arctos Partners.

No details were disclosed in the official statement. However, the Financial Times reported that the talks started a year ago and Arctos will buy up to 12.5 percent, citing two informed sources. The deal values PSG at more than €4 billion ($4.32 billion).  

As a non-controlling owner, Arctos will not influence any on-field sporting matters. Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) will continue to have full control of all decisions at PSG.

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The investment from the stake sale will go towards growing PSG’s operations and supporting the club’s strategic real estate initiatives related to its stadium revamp and the new development of PSG’s training centre at Poissy in suburban Paris.

Arctos will also provide services to drive the club’s international expansion, particularly in North America, engaging new fans across geographies and collaborating to explore sports investment opportunities around the globe.

QSI first invested in PSG in 2011 and took control of the French giants the following year, valuing the club at €100 million. Qatar has since spent more than $1.2 billion on transfers, assembling a superstar forward line of Brazil’s Neymar, France’s Kylian Mbappé and Argentina’s Lionel Messi.

Since the summer, QSI has sought new investment in PSG by selling a 15 percent stake.  

Some 1.4 million people visited Qatar during the month-long World Cup, which ended with Messi and Mbappé going head to head in a dramatic final on December 18. Attendances averaged about 53,000 a match, according to the Qatar News Agency. 

Since QSI’s acquisition, PSG has won 30 trophies and last year won a record 11th French Ligue 1 title. The club reported the fastest revenue growth of any major European football team. 

In the summer, Lionel Messi left PSG to play for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, while Neymar signed with Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal.