Apollo Global Management acquires majority stake in Spanish club Atlético de Madrid
U.S. investment firm Apollo Global Management, through its sports arm, agreed to acquire a majority stake in La Liga club Atlético de Madrid, valuing the club up to €2.5 billion.
November 10, 2025 - 10:24 AM ET • 2 min read
The Spanish football club Atlético de Madrid announced Monday that it has reached an agreement for Apollo Sports Capital (ASC), the sports investment arm of U.S. private equity firm Apollo Global Management, to become its majority shareholder.
The deal, which is expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2026, involves ASC acquiring between 55% and 57% of the club's shares. Sources familiar with the transaction indicated that the operation values the La Liga club at approximately €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion). The specific financial details of the acquisition were not officially disclosed by the club.
The acquisition marks the latest high-profile investment in European football by a private equity firm, a trend driven by the sector's stable and predictable revenue streams derived from global media rights and commercial partnerships.
As part of the agreement, current CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín and President Enrique Cerezo will remain in their respective positions, ensuring continuity in the club's leadership. Both leaders will also retain stakes in the club as minority shareholders.
Gil Marín, who has overseen the club's operations for two decades, welcomed the investment, stating that Apollo is an ally that respects the history, traditions, and identity of Atlético and its fans. He added that the investment would provide "additional resources and enthusiasm to help maintain our growth and competitiveness."
Robert Givone, a partner at Apollo, emphasized that maintaining the current leadership was essential to the investment strategy, praising Gil Marín's success in transforming Atlético into one of Europe's most successful and recognized clubs.
The existing minority shareholders, including Quantum Pacific Group, owned by Israeli-British billionaire Idan Ofer, and funds managed by Ares Management, will also remain as investors, though their stakes will be diluted following the majority acquisition by Apollo.
The announcement follows months of negotiations. Reports in September indicated that the American asset management company was moving closer to securing a significant share of the club, seeking to acquire portions of the holdings belonging to Gil Marín, Cerezo, and other existing funds.