Eagle Football Holdings: initial investment of $40m received prior to IPO

American company Eagle Football Holdings, owner of Olympique Lyonnais (Ligue 1 McDonald's), Botafogo (Brasileiro Serie A), RWD Molenbeek (Belgian second division), the FC Florida academy (USA) and a minority shareholder in Crystal Palace FC (Premier League), will benefit from an initial investment of $40m (€38m) as part of a $100m fund-raising operation launched ahead of its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange scheduled for "early 2025," announced the group on 21/11/2024.

This initial investment in the company led by John Textor is "led by UCEA Capital Partners", a family office based in London (ENG). "This financing round will support the company's strategic initiatives, strengthen its balance sheet, and help to drive growth in preparation for Eagle Football’s planned initial public offering."

The announcement comes six days after the LFP's Professional Clubs Control Committee decided to sanction Olympique Lyonnais by imposing wage bill restrictions, a ban on recruitment and, above all, a "precautionary relegation at the end of the current season", in application…