Aston Villa owners take 30 per cent stake in France's FC Annecy | OneFootball

Aston Villas owners have broadened their multi-club model by acquiring a 30 per cent stake in French second division side FC Annecy.

The club said in a statement that V Sports, owners of Aston Villa, had joined as a minority shareholder and that the partnership aligns with Annecys identity, local roots and development. The announcement was posted on the French clubs website.

The arrangement is understood to have been in the pipeline for several months and will focus primarily on youth development.

Villa loaned two academy players, Triston Rowe and Travis Patterson, to Annecy last season. Further loans or sales are likely, and the French clubs facilities will be improved.

V Sports, led by Nassef Sawiris, Wes Edens and Michael Angelakis, has been expanding its group of clubs in recent years.

Collaborative agreements have been struck with Real Union in Spain, Vissel Kobe in Japan and Egyptian side ZED FC.

The group also holds a 17 per cent stake in Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes, reduced from 29 per cent in 2023 to comply with Uefa rules after both they and Villa qualified for European competition.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com