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Fallen French giants Bordeaux sold to US-based fund for one euro

A Bordeaux flag in the stands
A Bordeaux flag in the standsDANIEL VAQUERO / Sipa Press / Profimedia

Bordeaux announced on Wednesday that US-based investment fund Park ⁠Bench had purchased the club for €1 ($1.14).

The deal will see owner Gerard Lopez exit the ‌club after a five-year spell that has seen the ‌2008-09 Ligue 1 winners descend from ‌the top tier of French football to the ‌sixth, where they will now attempt to ‌start their season.

"This operation (sale) is concluded for a symbolic euro with the assumption of debts," said ‌a statement from Bordeaux, which called ⁠it "a major step ‌for the future" of the club.

The debts Park Bench ​will assume are close to €18 million, said French media outlet Ici.

Park Bench ​is a data analytics and software company with an investment portfolio. It is owned by ⁠American Evan Sofer ​and Briton James Bord.

The fund already holds shares in Spanish second-division outfit Cordoba and is the majority shareholder in Scottish Championship (second-tier) club Dunfermline Athletic.

Bordeaux have ‌twice been placed into administration since 2021 and as a result of relegations enforced by the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG), have spent the last two seasons playing in the Championnat National 1 (fourth tier).

This year, Bordeaux have faced more financial issues, which led the DNCG - which oversees the accounts of professional clubs ‌in France - to relegate them to Regional ​1 (sixth tier).

The Regional Management Control Commission of the ‌Nouvelle-Aquitaine Football League must now approve the sale and the club's budget for 2026-27 for Bordeaux to play in Regional 1.

The Bordeaux Commercial Court must also approve ⁠the plan so ⁠Bordeaux can avoid ‌liquidation.

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