V Sports poised to take 30% Annecy stake in youth-focused project | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, V Sports, owner of Aston Villa, is preparing to take a 30% stake in Annecy, with exclusive talks under way and a deal possible within a month. The Ligue 2 club would move into multi-club ownership on a development-led model.

V Sports is jointly owned by American billionaire Wes Edens, co-owner of the Bucks in the NBA, and Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris, who holds shares in the Knicks via MSG Sports. Negotiations have progressed quietly with majority shareholder Philippe Rey-Gorrez and president Sébastien Faraglia. Aston Villa are third in the Premier League.

Talks were initiated in June and July 2025. Early links began last September when England Under-20 defender Triston Rowe arrived on loan, with Aston Villa covering his salary in full. Further signings could follow this window, notably 19-year-old Dutch forward Zépiqueno Redmond.

The plan is politically sensitive, as the city council must soon renew a long-term emphyteutic lease that would allow a new training centre to be built. When contacted, the council said it had no information at this stage. V Sports has also invested in ASEC Mimosas academy in Abidjan and in partner clubs in Japan and Portugal.

The focus is on youth development. Roberto Olabe, Aston Villa's director of football, has visited Haute-Savoie, spoken with Annecy's sporting staff and appreciates Laurent Guyot's style. Aimé Jacquet is involved to oversee the academy.

Rey-Gorrez invests about €3.5m a year and does not wish to disengage. Annecy are 10th in Ligue 2 with 22 points after 18 games.

Source: L'Équipe