Atletico Madrid Set for American Takeover as Apollo Sports Capital Becomes Majority Shareholder

Atletico Madrid is poised for a major shift in its ownership structure, with American investment firm Apollo Sports Capital (ASC) set to become the club’s majority shareholder early next year. The Spanish side announced the deal on Monday, marking a significant development in its modern history and signaling the growing influence of U.S. investors in European football.

Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, but both parties confirmed in a joint statement that the agreement is designed to secure long-term stability and growth rather than to pursue a multi-club ownership model. “The investment by ASC will reinforce the club’s position among football’s elite and support its ambition to deliver long-term success for millions of fans worldwide,” the statement read.

Despite the change in ownership, Atletico emphasized continuity at the top. Chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín and president Enrique Cerezo will remain in their positions, ensuring what the club called “continuity of vision and leadership.”

Apollo Sports Capital, which manages a portfolio of global sports and entertainment assets, already has stakes in major tennis tournaments, including the Madrid Open and the Miami Open. The firm said it intends to inject additional capital into Atletico to strengthen the club’s finances, boost on-field competitiveness, and fund major infrastructure projects. Among those initiatives is the ambitious development of the Ciudad del Deporte, a sprawling sports and entertainment complex adjacent to the Metropolitano Stadium.

“As long-term investors, ASC and the existing shareholders will partner with Atlético de Madrid’s management to enhance the club’s financial strength, sporting competitiveness, and community impact,” the joint statement added.

Rob Givone, portfolio manager at ASC, described the club as “one of Europe’s great sporting institutions,” praising Atletico’s enduring legacy since its founding in 1903. The move marks another high-profile American investment in Spanish football, following a growing trend of U.S.-based ownership across Europe’s top leagues.

Atletico Madrid, coached by Diego Simeone since 2011, remains one of Spain’s most consistent clubs, sitting fourth in La Liga and aiming for Champions League qualification once again. The 11-time Spanish champions last lifted the league trophy in 2021 and twice reached the Champions League final, in 2014 and 2016, falling narrowly short to city rivals Real Madrid.

With Apollo Sports Capital’s backing, the club now eyes a new era—one that blends American investment power with the fierce identity and passion that have defined Atletico for more than a century.