How much is OL worth now after Textor’s €798m buyout? | OneFootball

Olympique Lyonnais’ value has slumped from the €798m paid in 2022, weighed down by heavy debts, steep losses and the appointment of an administrator.

According to L'Équipe, John Textor was sidelined in late March from Eagle Football Holdings Bidco, which owns 85% of OL, and Cork Gully was appointed as administrator. Ares, which lent €425m to fund the deal, is said to have acted after missed repayments. Textor rejects this, alleging a plot by Ares.

OL’s liabilities are put at around €500m. The club posted a deficit of more than €200m in 2024-2025 and is still estimated at about €100m this season, despite cost-cutting led by president and shareholder Michele Kang and chief executive Michael Gerlinger.

The report outlines two possible routes, a Lille-style clean-up and debt restructuring to restore value, or opening the capital to optimise creditor recovery. Any buyer would also need to satisfy the stadium’s bank debt of €320m, and would likely seek to load consideration into debt rather than equity.

Rational buyers typically value clubs on revenue multiples excluding transfers. Lower-profile teams trade a little below one times revenue, major brands at three to four times, with OL around two times. On €160m revenue in 2024-2025, that implies roughly €300m, though the debt mountain means a bidder is unlikely to pay that figure.

The report adds that creditors may judge a partial write-off preferable to risking total loss. Market interest appears muted, OL is not formally for sale, and there is ample supply of clubs.

Source: L'Équipe