Interconnected Ventures, the company founded by French soccer star Kylian Mbappe, has acquired Ligue 2 club Stade Malherbe Caen.
Interconnected will acquire 80 per cent of Caen’s shares in a deal reportedlyworth between €15 million (US$16.2 million) and €20 million (US$21.7 million). Interconnected chief executive Ziad Hammoud is set to become chairman of the club.
US asset management firm Oaktree, which took control of Italian champions Inter Milan in May, has been the majority owner of second-tier Caen since 2020 at a time when the French club was in financial trouble after relegation from Ligue 1 in 2019. Mbappe nearly signed for Caen when he was a youth player and the takeover means the 25-year-old will be one of the youngest owners of a professional soccer team.
“As the lead investor in this project, we are very excited to continue the development of Stade Malherbe Caen, alongside PAC Invest,” said Hammoud. “Our shared vision with the club of sporting excellence and community engagement is at the heart of our approach. We are determined to create an environment where young talents can flourish and where the club can defend its identity with strength and ambition.”
Capton added: “It is an incredible opportunity for Stade Malherbe Caen to be able to count on Coalition Capital for its development. Its values, commitments and extraordinary vision of sport are unique assets for this project. I thank Coalition Capital for their trust and I am very happy to be able to share this new cycle for the club with them. More than ever, the Stade Malherbe Caen project will live up to its history and its supporters.”
Coming next:
On the pitch, Mbappe is slated to make his debut for Real Madrid in the Uefa Super Cup against Atalanta on 14th August.
By SportsProMedia
