Apollo Sports Capital, a global sports investment company, has acquired a majority stake in Atlético de Madrid, while keeping both Miguel Ángel Gil as CEO and Enrique Cerezo as president.
The American investment fund has purchased 55% of the club's shares, as reported by the newspaper Expansión, leaving the CEO's stake at 10% and the president's at 3%. Quantum Pacific, a British firm founded by Israeli tycoon Idan Ofer, will be the second largest shareholder with 25%, while the other American fund, Ares, reduces its share to 5%.
According to the financial newspaper, the club's valuation at the time of the purchase is around 2.5 billion euros, including a debt of just over 500 million still pending on the entity.
Apollo's entry into Atlético de Madrid "will strengthen our club's position among the football elite and support our ambition to deliver long-term success to our millions of fans worldwide," as stated by the club in the press release confirming the news.
This capital injection is made to "support the club's long-term plans." It involves "additional investment in Atlético de Madrid's teams and significant infrastructure projects."
The main project is the Ciudad del Deporte, for which around 800 million euros were needed, with 600 million still lacking for its financing until this acquisition. "The goal of this project is to become a world-class destination for sports, leisure, culture, and community activities," they point out in the press release.
"Apollo Sports Capital is a great ally that respects the history, traditions, and identity of Atlético de Madrid and its fans, while providing additional resources and enthusiasm to help maintain our growth and competitiveness," values Miguel Ángel Gil. The CEO also adds that it is "a great opportunity to drive solid and sustainable growth."
On the other hand, Robert Givone, a partner at Apollo and co-manager of ASC, stated: "Atlético de Madrid is one of the great sports institutions in Europe, and it is an honor for Apollo Sports Capital to invest in this historic club with a legacy of over 120 years. Miguel Ángel has done an extraordinary job transforming Atlético, and for us, it was essential to invest in supporting the continuity of his leadership, as well as investing in the team and the local community."
The investment will be subject to certain conditions expected to be met in the first quarter of 2026. These include regulatory approvals and other terms such as a commitment to a capital increase before the end of this season.