City Football Group is the world’s leading private owner today and operator of football clubs, as it has included Istanbul Basaksehir who have become the latest side to join the City Football Group. City Football Group has fourteen clubs in major cities across the world with total or partial ownership.
Thirteen of them being Premier League Champions Manchester City in the United Kindom, New York City FC in the United States, Melbourne FC in Australia, Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, Montevideo City Torque in Uruguay, Girona Futbol Club in Spain, Sichuan Jiuniu FC in China, Mumbai City FC in India, Lommel SK in Belgium, ESTAC in France, Palermo FC in Italy, Bahia SAF in Brazil and partner Club, Club Bolivar.
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Ownership Evolution of City Football Group
City Football Group (CFG) is owned by Newton Investment and Development LLC majorly, with Silver Lake, a global technology investment firm holding a significant minority share (18.16%).
Since the 23rd September of 2008 to December of 2015, Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) a private investment and development company belonging to His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan owned the City Football Group entirely.
Since the July of 25, 2021, City Football Group’s top owner has been Newton Investment and Development LLC, a company based in Abu Dhabi and entirely owned by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
List of All The Clubs Owned by City Football Group
Manchester City
Manchester City is the highlight of the City Football Group’s success as they won the treble last year under the guidance of Pep Guardiola and have dominated the English Premier League since he came in charge from 2016. The origin of Manchester City began East Manchester. The Club became Manchester City FC in 1894, from its first incarnation as St Mark’s West Gorton in 1880.
New York City FC
New York City Football Club is the first ever team to play in the five boroughs of New York City and it is also the only Major League Soccer team to do so. NYCFC is majorly owned by City Football Group and plays most of the of home games at the iconic Yankee Stadium, also home to the New York Yankees a minority owner. NYCFC won the biggest prize in US Soccer in the 2021 season, making their first ever MLS Cup Final appearance when they were crowned the MLS Cup Champions after beating the Portland Timbers on penalty shootout.
Melbourne City FC
Melbourne City Football Club is a professional football club that competes in the A-Leagues, the major Australian domestic competitions. The Club is entirely owned by the City Football Group and became to be known as Melbourne City FC only in 2014. Melbourne City FC plays its home games at AAMI Park, a 30,000-capacity stadium in the heart of Melbourne City.
Yokohama F. Marinos
In May 2014, City Football Group were announced as a minority shareholder of the Yokohama F. Marinos (YFM). City Football Group provided assistance and access to it’s training methods, medical care, sport science, team management and coaching expertise. Nissan Motors, the major owners of YFM struck a partnership with CFG that marked the first significant foreign investment in a J-League Club. Kevin Muscat is the manager of the team and they play at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama.
Montevideo City Torque
In April 2017, City Football Group invested in Uruguayan football Montevideo City Torque. Originally established in 2007 and simply known as Torque, at the beginning of the 2020 season the club was renamed to Montevideo City Torque.
Girona FC
City Football Group, together with Girona Football Group, acquired Spanish football club Girona FC in an equal partnership deal (44.3% by each party) in August 2017. Girona have been promoted for the second time to the Primera División after having been close to achieving it in the two previous play-offs. Girona FC, established in 1930, reached its peak when City Football Group joined, coinciding with their promotion to Primera in 2017
Sichuan Jiuniu
City Football Group announced the acquisition of Sichuan Jiuniu in China League 2 on February 2019, together with CMC, CFG shareholders via China Sports Capital, and UBTECH (Manchester City partner). Sichuan Jiuniu based in Chengdu in Sichuan Province, plays its home games at Chengdu Longquanyi Football Stadium with 27,000 capacity . The Club is now owned by CMC and CFG as of March 2022.
Mumbai City FC
City Football Group agreed a deal in November 2019 to acquire a major stake in Mumbai City FC marking a huge move into Indian football with the Indian Super League. Mumbai City FC were crowned Champions of the Hero Indian Super League in 2021 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa after a 2-1 win over ATK Mohun Bagan.
Lommel SK
City Football Group agreed a deal to secure a major stake in Lommel SK in May 2020 in the Belgian Second Division. The club plays its home games at the Soevereinstadion with 8,000 capacity in Lommel, in the province of Limburg. Lommel SK finished third in the Belgian second division.
Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne (ESTAC)
City Football Group announced that Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne (ESTAC) in September 2020, had become its tenth club.
Palermo F.C.
Palermo Football Club or Palermo F.C. simply known as Palermo commonly, is an Italian professional football club that currently plays in Serie B based in Palermo, Sicily.
EC Bahia
Esporte Clube Bahia (EC Bahia) based in Salvador, Bahia State is a Brazilian Série A club.
Club Bolivar
In January 2021 City Football Group family welcomed Club Bolivar as its first Partner Club.
Istanbul Basaksehir
İstanbul Başakşehir Futbol Kulübü (Rams Başakşehir) simply known as Başakşehir based in the Başakşehir district of Istanbul is a Turkish professional football club.
