Apollo Sports Capital to Acquire Majority Stake in Atlético de Madrid
The relatively new sports investment arm of global asset manager Apollo (NYSE: APO), Apollo Sports Capital, or ASC, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in football club Atlético de Madrid.
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but the investment deal reached with Atlético’s current major shareholders seeks to support the Spanish club’s financial stability and infrastructure goals.
The transaction is subject to standard closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is anticipated to be finalized in the first quarter of 2026.
Launched in late September and reported by AltsWire, ASC provides credit and hybrid capital solutions across the rapidly expanding global sports and live events ecosystem.
Under the terms of the agreement, key existing leaders will maintain their positions and ownership stakes: Miguel Ángel Gil will remain the chief executive officer; and Enrique Cerezo will continue as president. Both men will retain their positions as shareholders.
Upon closing, ASC will hold a majority stake, partnering with the existing major shareholders, which include Gil, Cerezo, Quantum Pacific Group, and Ares Management funds. Gil stated that ASC is “a powerful ally” that will help maintain the club’s growth and competitiveness while respecting its history and identity.
The primary purpose of the investment is to reinforce Atlético de Madrid’s financial position and fund large-scale projects. The shareholder group plans to inject additional capital to support the organization’s long-term strategy, including financial support to the club’s football teams and significant funding for the development of the Ciudad del Deporte, i.e., Sports City, a new sports and entertainment district located adjacent to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium. This development is planned as a multi-use urban hub for the Madrid community.
“Atlético de Madrid is one of Europe’s great sporting institutions and we are honored for Apollo Sports Capital to invest in this storied club and its more than 120-year heritage. Miguel Ángel has done a tremendous job transforming Atlético and it was important to us that we invest behind his continued leadership, in addition to investing in the team and the local community,” said Robert Givone, Apollo partner and co-portfolio manager of ASC.
He continued: “We’re excited to back the team and honor its spirit and traditions, and to add value in areas where we excel, such as growth of the Ciudad del Deporte and enhancing the fan experience. Supporting the ambitious plans for the sports city can create significant value for both the club and the local economy.”
The acquisition of Atlético de Madrid represents ASC’s flagship majority equity investment and is not, it said, part of a broader multi-club control ownership strategy. ASC’s other recent investments include the Mutua Madrid Open and Miami Open tennis tournaments.
Led by Al Tylis as CEO, the launch of ASC solidified Apollo’s commitment to the sector, building on the approximately $17 billion already deployed by Apollo’s managed funds in the broader sports and entertainment space to date.
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