Atletico Madrid announce sale of club to US fund

Atletico Madrid have announced the sale of the shares to Apollo Sports Capital , which becomes the majority shareholder of the club from now on.

This is a very important move as the four major shareholders reduce their stake to allow the entry of the new investor, who is now the largest shareholder of the Metropolitano club. One of the most important points is the continuity of Gil Marin at the helm of the club . The CEO will continue to play an important role within the club.

The club's statement

It was the club itself that reported the sale in this statement on its website: "Our club and the global sports investor form a long-term alliance to drive our growth under the leadership of Miguel Angel Gil and Enrique Cerezo".

"Atletico Madrid and its main shareholders - Miguel Angel Gil, Enrique Cerezo, Quantum Pacific Group and funds managed by Ares Management - have reached an agreement for Apollo Sports Capital ("ASC"), the global sports investment company of Apollo (NYSE: APO), to become the majority shareholder of our club."

The statement continues: "As part of the agreement, Miguel Angel Gil and Enrique Cerezo will continue to lead Atletico Madrid as CEO and president respectively, and will remain as shareholders, ensuring continuity and vision of the project and its leadership. Under their leadership over the past two decades, Atletico Madrid has established itself as one of the most successful and recognised football clubs in Europe, achieving continued sporting success, expanding its brand around the world and reinforcing its commitment to the community."

"ASC's investment will reinforce our club's position among the elite of football and support our ambition to deliver long-term success for our millions of fans around the world. As long-term investors, ASC and the current shareholders will work with Atletico Madrid's management to strengthen the club's financial strength, sporting competitiveness and contribution to the community."

"The shareholders plan to inject new capital to support the club's long-term plans, including further investment in Atletico Madrid's teams and major infrastructure projects. These include the development of the Sports City, a new sports and entertainment center next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium. The aim of this project is to become a world-class destination for sport, leisure, culture and community activity. Thanks to Apollo's extensive experience in the sports, media and entertainment sector, ASC aims to create a dynamic, transformative and multidisciplinary urban center serving the people of Madrid."

Our CEO, Miguel Angel Gil, said: "We are very proud to welcome a new partner committed to the club. Apollo Sports Capital is a great ally who respects the history, traditions and identity of Atletico de Madrid and its fans, while bringing additional resources and enthusiasm to help sustain our growth and competitiveness."

Miguel Angel Gil added: "This next exciting phase will be built on the model that has driven our progress in recent years, and Atletico would not be in the position it is in today without the support of Wanda Group, Quantum Pacific and Ares, whose backing has strengthened us at key moments. Our achievements also reflect the dedication of our employees, the commitment of our players and coaches and, above all, the unwavering passion of our fans - the true heart and soul of the club."

"Looking ahead, together we see a great opportunity to drive strong and sustainable growth for Atletico de Madrid, building on our legacy. It was important to me to have a long-term investment partner who believed in our strategy and could enhance our off-field activities with the development of the Sports City," concluded our CEO.

Robert Givone, partner at Apollo and co-manager of ASC, said : "Atletico Madrid is one of the great sporting institutions in Europe and it is an honour for Apollo Sports Capital to invest in this historic club and its legacy of more than 120 years. Miguel Angel has done an extraordinary job transforming Atletico and it was important for us to invest in supporting the continuity of his leadership, as well as investing in the team and the local community."

Givone continued: "We are excited to support the team and honour its spirit and traditions, and to add value in those areas where we excel, such as the growth of the City of Sport and enhancing the fan experience. Supporting the ambitious plans for the City of Sport can generate significant value for both the club and the local economy."

Apollo Sports Capital's investment is subject to customary closing conditions , including regulatory approvals, and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. Upon completion of the transaction, Atletico Madrid --including Atletico San Luis and Atletico Ottawa-- will become majority owned by Apollo Sports Capital; Miguel Angel Gil, Enrique Cerezo, Quantum Pacific Group and funds managed by Ares Management will remain as minority shareholders. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Apollo Sports Capital (ASC) is a global sports investment company and a subsidiary of Apollo. ASC invests across the sports and live events sector, primarily through credit and hybrid investment opportunities. Atletico Madrid will be the principal investment with a majority stake held by ASC and is not part of a multi-club ownership strategy. Other recent investments by Apollo Sports Capital include the Mutua Madrid Open and Miami Open tennis tournaments, in partnership with MARI, as well as the new company from Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro. ASC is led by CEO Al Tylis; co-managers Rob Givone and Lee Solomon; and Chief Strategy Officer Sam Porter. A&O Shearman acted as legal advisor to Apollo Sports Capital. ECIJA acted as legal advisor to Miguel Angel Gil and Enrique Cerezo.