Valencia CF announced Friday that an investment group backed by KKR co-founders George Roberts and Henry Kravis has purchased a 42% stake in the LaLiga club. The Valencia 42% stake sale values the Spanish side at an enterprise value of €1.25 billion, or $1.4 billion, according to Reuters.
The buyer, Pitchwise Holdings, is led by sports executives Ann Rodriguez and Corey Woolfolk. The group is purchasing its shares directly from Meriton Holdings, Valencia’s current majority owner, Reuters reported.
Deal Details And Capital Investment
Beyond acquiring the 42% stake from Meriton, Pitchwise Holdings has committed €100 million in fresh capital for direct investment in the club. The transaction remains subject to standard closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, Reuters said.
The sale does not shift control away from Meriton Holdings, which will retain its majority shareholding in Valencia once the deal closes. Kiat Lim is set to continue as club president. Rodriguez and Woolfolk will join Lim as part of a newly formed ownership group alongside Meriton.
What It Means For Valencia’s Ownership Structure
The arrangement creates a shared ownership setup rather than a change in control. Meriton stays on top as majority owner while Pitchwise Holdings becomes a significant minority stakeholder with a seat at the table through its two executives joining the ownership group.
The backing of Roberts and Kravis, who built KKR into one of the world’s largest investment firms, adds financial weight to the deal. Their involvement through Pitchwise Holdings signals continued interest from major private equity figures in European soccer clubs, a trend that has accelerated across LaLiga and other top leagues in recent years.
Club Plans Tied To The Deal
Valencia has not detailed specific plans tied to the investment beyond the €100 million capital injection into the club. No timeline for the deal’s closing has been disclosed, and the announcement did not address how day-to-day decision-making will be split among the expanded ownership group.
What’s Next
The transaction still needs to clear regulatory approvals and other standard closing conditions before it becomes final. Valencia has not released additional details on the deal’s expected completion date or on how Rodriguez and Woolfolk will operate within the new ownership structure alongside Lim and Meriton.
For more on Valencia’s current roster situation, see the Vinícius Júnior referee protection comments coverage from across LaLiga.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
