Acquiring or selling a football club is one of the most complex transactions in sport.
The regulatory landscape, emotional dynamics, valuation challenges, and stakeholder considerations make football M&A unlike almost any other deal.
PLUS provides independent, expert advisory to buyers, sellers and investors across the full deal lifecycle - from initial identification and strategy through to due diligence, structuring and completion.
We work with all sides of the transaction.
For Investors & Family Offices
You are looking to acquire a stake in, or full ownership of, a football club. You may be exploring the market for the first time, or you may have identified a specific target. You need a trusted advisor who understands football's unique dynamics and can help you make a well-informed, well-structured investment.
For Club Owners
You are considering selling a stake or full ownership of your club. You need to understand what your club is worth, how to prepare it for a transaction, who the right buyers are, and how to get a deal done without disrupting your organisation or your community.
For Clubs Seeking Investment
You are not looking to sell, but you need external capital to fund growth, infrastructure, or stability. We help you identify the right investors, structure the right deal, and protect what matters most about your club.
Five stages to a completed deal.
Understanding Your Goals
Before anything else, we invest time in understanding what you are trying to achieve. For buyers, that means understanding your vision, budget, risk appetite and timeline. For sellers, it means understanding your desired outcome, your obligations to stakeholders, and your non-negotiables.
Market Intelligence & Target Identification
We use our network and market knowledge to identify opportunities that match your criteria - or, on the sell side, to identify the right pool of potential buyers for your club.
Valuation & Deal Structuring
Football club valuations are complex. Revenue, playing squad value, stadium ownership, debts, league position and trajectory all play a role. We provide a grounded, experienced perspective on value - and help structure deals that work for both sides.
Due Diligence Support
We help buyers understand what they are getting into - and help sellers prepare for the scrutiny of a buyer's due diligence process. Our network includes specialist advisors in legal, tax, and regulatory matters as required.
Getting the Deal Over the Line
Many deals fail not because the fundamentals are wrong, but because the process breaks down. We manage the process, maintain momentum, and help both parties navigate the inevitable complications of closing a football deal.
Football clubs are not conventional businesses.
Their value is tied to performance, culture, community relationships and regulatory standing in ways that standard M&A frameworks don't always capture.
Add to that the EFL's owners and directors test, the emotional complexity of supporter communities, and the media scrutiny that comes with any significant transaction - and you need an advisor who truly understands the environment.
PLUS has that experience. We have been involved in football M&A at multiple levels and across multiple geographies. We know what the process looks like from the inside.
Discretion & Confidentiality
All conversations and engagements are handled with absolute discretion. We understand that premature disclosure of a potential transaction can cause significant damage to all parties involved.
We take our obligation of confidentiality extremely seriously.
If you are considering a football club acquisition, investment, or sale - we would welcome a confidential conversation.
All conversations are treated with absolute discretion.
Talk to Our M&A Team