
<p>US investor John Textor completed a takeover at Olympique Lyonnais. Textor previously purchased a minority stake in the French club this past summer. However, further investment has taken the businessman’s holdings in the team from 40% to 78%. This means that he now has control at the club.</p>



<p><em><a href="https:\/\/www.ft.com/content/2fcdf81d-2abb-4ece-8ede-2a9775a09c35" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Financial Times</a></em> is reporting that the deal was finalized for around $940 million. The news outlet also claims that the investment group could soon go back to buy the remaining 22% of the club.</p>



<p>Lyon are now the fourth team that Textor currently has stake in. The American also owns 40% of Crystal Palace, 90% of Botafogo, and 80% in Belgian side RWD Molenbeek. All four purchases have been made in the last 18 months. Following the Lyon announcement, Textor claimed that it will be a new chapter for the <a href="https:\/\/www.worldsoccertalk.com/ligue-un-tv-schedule">Ligue 1</a> team.</p>



<h2>US investor takes over Olympique Lyonnais</h2>



<p>“Today represents a new beginning for Olympique Lyonnais,” <a href="https:\/\/www.ol.fr/en/news/closing-of-the-transactions-with-eagle-football" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> Textor. “After four months of constructive negotiations marked by a common understanding with Jean-Michel Aulas and all our partners, we are proud to reach this exceptional agreement.”&nbsp;</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🚨 Une nouvelle histoire débute aujourd&apos;hui 🔴🔵<br><br>OL Groupe a le plaisir de confirmer que la réalisation des opérations avec Eagle Football a maintenant eu lieu</p>— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/OL/status/1604885325175787529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>“It will be a milestone in the history of European and international soccer development, thanks to the combination within one structure, Eagle Football, of our interests in football clubs with a rich culture and decades of experience: Olympique Lyonnais, Crystal Palace, Botafogo, and RWD Molenbeek.”</p>



<h2>Aulas remaining with Lyon despite sale</h2>



<p>Aulas has been the owner and president of Lyon since 1987. He is widely regarded to be a tough negotiator in transfer talks. Despite the takeover, Textor has made it clear that Aulas will remain with the club.</p>



<p>“Eagle Football, in which Jean-Michel Aulas will be an independent director, intends to quickly implement collaboration across its clubs notably in France, Brazil and Belgium, linking on training and development methodologies of Olympique Lyonnais, a reference in the field.”</p>



<p>“The conditions are therefore right for us to work together, with Jean-Michel, on<em> </em>sports, organization and infrastructure issues. He will keep the operational management of Olympique Lyonnais for at least three years and will remain surrounded by his team.”</p>



<p>Lyon is one of the biggest teams in France. They have collected seven top fight division titles during their illustrious history. Nevertheless, the club is currently in a bit of a downward trend. Lyon is eighth in the Ligue 1 table at the moment, a spot where they finished the previous campaign.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PanoramiC</em></p>


US businessman John Textor, an investor, purchased a controlling stake in Olympique Lyonnais. The club becomes his latest soccer investment.

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US investor takes over Olympique Lyonnais