This time, it's official: Olympique Lyonnais has sold Seattle Reign RC, its American franchise. A sale synonymous with a nice influx of money for the Lyon club.
OL and Sealle Reign FC are over. As expected for several months, the Rhone club has in fact sold its American franchise, resident of MLS. Les Gones formalized this sale on Monday and communicated the price of this sale: 53.6 million euros.
“OL Groupe announces the signing of an agreement with a group including the Seattle Sounders and global investment company Carlyle for the sale of Seattle Reign FC (formerly OL Reign). In this context, OL Groupe will sell its entire stake, i.e. 97% of the club's share capital. OL first announced.
Refocusing on men's football
“The sale price is 58 million dollars (around 53.6 million euros to date) for 100% of the shares. The transaction is expected to be completed in early 2024, subject to approval by the Board of Directors of the NWSL (National Women's Soccer League) and MLS (Major League Soccer),” said the Lyon club.
The sale of the Seattle Reign, a few weeks after Michèle Kang took control of OL women's football with 52.91% of the capital and voting rights, confirms OL's desire to concentrate on men's football. “This operation is part of the group's strategy, in particular the refocusing on men's football announced on October 25, also took care to remind the club. It should allow OL Groupe to recognize a capital gain on the sale in the accounts for the 2023-2024 financial year, after deduction of current account advances incurred in the development of the club and the impact of the cumulative results since the acquisition of the franchise in January 2020.”
