In a landmark development that bridges the club’s storied past with its future, Sevilla FC is poised for a historic ownership change led by one of its most famous sons.
World Cup-winning defender Sergio Ramos has reached a preliminary agreement with the club’s reference shareholders to purchase the Andalusian institution, according to reports from Spanish radio network Cadena SER.
The deal, potentially valued between €400 and €450 million, opens an exclusivity period for Ramos and his investment consortium to conduct due diligence on the club’s finances.
The agreement marks a decisive step in a process that has seen significant evolution. Ramos formally reiterated his desire to purchase the club in a meeting with shareholders earlier this month, positioning his bid as a serious alternative after negotiations with a separate American investment fund lost momentum.
Reports indicate his consortium, which includes Argentine entrepreneur Martin Ink and the American soccer-focused investment group Five Eleven Capital, has now signed a letter of intent with principal shareholders. “The offer tabled by Ramos and Co is said to be worth over €400 million,” one report noted, highlighting the substantial financial commitment involved.
This potential takeover represents an emotional full-circle journey for the 39-year-old defender. A native of Camas in Seville, Ramos graduated from the club’s academy, making his first-team debut in 2004 before a legendary 16-year career with Real Madrid.
He returned for a second playing stint in the 2023-24 season, declaring in an emotional farewell, “Wherever I am, Sevilla FC will have the staunch support of a Sevillista of birth and heart”. His transition from academy graduate to captain of Real Madrid and Spain, and now to prospective owner, underscores a deep, lifelong connection to the club.
The path to a final agreement, however, involves navigating complex financial and competitive landscapes. The next phase is a critical due diligence process, where Ramos’s group will thoroughly examine Sevilla’s accounts, a step expected to take several months.
A key point of analysis will be the precise assessment of the club’s debt, particularly concerning a loan from CVC Capital Partners provided to most La Liga clubs in 2021. Furthermore, Ramos’s group is not the only suitor; reports suggest the club has received up to nine different proposals for a takeover, with competing offers ranging in value.
This indicates that while Ramos has secured a privileged position, the sale is not yet finalized.
If completed, the acquisition would place Sergio Ramos among a growing list of iconic players who have moved into club ownership, such as David Beckham at Inter Miami and Gerard Pique at FC Andorra.
For Sevilla, a club that has experienced disappointing results and institutional uncertainty in recent seasons, a takeover led by a hometown legend offers a narrative of renewed identity and ambition.
As the due diligence period begins, the football world watches to see if this preliminary agreement culminates in a definitive and transformative deal for one of Spain’s most historic clubs.