Back to Press Releases 14 AUGUST 2017

Girona FC acquired by new investors

  • Acquisition made by two major shareholders - City Football Group and Girona Football Group
  • Agreement follows negotiations which started in 2016
  • Aim of new ownership to consolidate, sustain and later grow Girona FC as established La Liga club

Girona FC, City Football Group and Girona Football Group are pleased to announce the completion of a deal which sees the Club change hands into new ownership.

The Club, which in May this year clinched promotion to La Liga for the first time in its history, has been acquired in an equal partnership deal at 44.3% by both City Football Group and Girona Football Group.

Girona FC was founded in 1930, and has made significant progress over the past several years, growing its fan base and securing top tier football, via automatic promotion, having previously reached the play-offs on three times in the previous four seasons. The Club, whose home ground is the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi, also scored the most goals in this and the past seasons’ campaigns.

The acquisition, negotiations for which began in 2016, has been fully ratified by the Sports Council (Consejo Superior de Deportes) and will see Girona FC benefit from City Football Group’s well documented know-how and extensive networks in infrastructure, coaching, scouting and recruitment, youth development and executive leadership in addition to its global media, marketing and commercial capabilities.

In turn, Girona FC’s future on- and off-field potential, together with a positive academy track record, contributed significantly to the rationale for the new investment by both stakeholders and represents positive foundations upon which the club can both stabilize and grow into a well-established La Liga presence.

Speaking of the developments, President of Girona FC, Delfi Geli said:

We are delighted to confirm the new investment into Girona FC by City Football Group and Girona Football Group. Both partners have proven track records in their respective fields and can bring immeasurable knowledge and support as we seek to build on the recent successful outcomes of many years of hard work and to fulfil our ambition of being an established club at the highest level of the domestic game. City Football Group’s long term approach and respect for the heritage of all of its investments to date is plain to see and we are privileged to become part of that extended family.

Delfi Geli, President of Girona FC

Reflecting on CFG’s investment in the club, Ferran Soriano, Chief Executive Officer of City Football Group said:

Girona FC is a club whose actions have spoken loudest in terms of its ambitions. It has quietly and with great determination and humility, achieved promotion to La Liga which is, itself, an incredible achievement. It has also done so whilst playing good football. The club’s continued ambitions to achieve sustained La Liga status and success while applying those same qualities and behaviours is an ambition we share at City Football Group and the opportunity to invest in that future was compelling. We will listen and learn, and do whatever is necessary to support the club and its fans in achieving the long-term sustainability they rightly desire.

Ferran Soriano, Chief Executive Officer of Manchester City

Echoing these sentiments, Pere Guardiola, Managing Director of Girona Football Group said,:

This co-investment in Girona FC was an obvious and exciting opportunity, well before the promotion of the club to La Liga in May. Together, we are confident that we will give the Club the backing it seeks, whether the support comes in the form of executive, financial, or leadership help. We also know and respect Girona and its footballing traditions and I am absolutely confident that our fans and other key stakeholders will see tangible benefits of this investment in the weeks, months and years to come.

Pere Guardiola, Managing Director of Girona Football Group