The news was not really a surprise for the few followers of Paris FC: the Parisian club will change its majority shareholder. It was only a matter of weeks, since its current owner and president since 2012, Pierre Ferracci, had already announced in the columns of The Team in September his desire to leave “new investors take over”. The identity of those involved was finally revealed this Wednesday by the daily, information that So Foot is able to confirm: it is the Arnault family, associated with the Austrian group Red Bull. A major announcement for Ile-de-France football, as the advent of a second club capable of competing with the local PSG was expected by many.
A local investor for a club with DNA
The timing of the transfer of power is also respected, since Pierre Ferracci wanted to close the deal “before the end of autumn”. Season still in progress, at least officially, on the calendar. In the list of promises kept by the one who holds 52% of the club’s shares also comes that of seeing the PFC « take on another dimension », as well as that of selling to “French and/or European investors”. The president wanted to continue “the DNA of Paris FC”namely its popular roots, its training, respect for environmental, social, economic and ethical issues, as well as a significant effort concerning women’s football.
The LVMH-Red Bull tandem has therefore committed to Pierre Ferracci, who will retain 30% of the club’s shares until the 2026-2027 season, to respect these requirements. So no more Saudi funds or obscure investment funds from elsewhere in the world. The Arnault family, owner of the global luxury and spirits group LVMH, invests personally in the club via a holding company, up to 55%, while the Red Bull group completes with 15%. The richest man in France, with 200 billion euros in his bag, then planned to buy Ferracci’s shares, to accumulate 85% of the capital of Paris FC. So much for the accounting side.
From neighbor to rival of PSG?
From a practical point of view, Bahrain, a 20% shareholder who arrived in 2020, remains jersey sponsor for the moment, but should, as is already the case for two Anglo-Sri Lankan and American holding companies, rid the floor. LVMH could even eventually replace the Persian Gulf kingdom. On the sporting side, Paris FC will continue to raise its standards. After the recruitment of Jean-Philippe Krasso and Maxime Lopez this summer, the objective is obviously a rise to Ligue 1… but not only that. The Team indicates that the new owners do not wish to immediately compete with their Qatari neighbor PSG, but that the desire is first to establish themselves permanently in Ligue 1 before competing in the Champions League in a few years. Between 100 and 200 million euros should be allocated to this mission.
A very attractive project on paper, for a club which always plays its home matches on the ailing pitch of the Charléty stadium, but which will be able to count on the new football boss appointed at the head of the Red Bull galaxy, Jürgen Klopp , to structure its ambitions. Before leaving the ship for good, Pierre Ferracci has one last dream: that of seeing Paris FC play at the Jean-Bouin stadium next season, after having changed the synthetic turf for a natural one and negotiated the concession with the Stade français. Also a way to get closer to PSG, at least geographically, since they will only have to cross the road to get to the Parc des Princes.
Paris FC will be sold to the Arnault family and the Red Bull group
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