Moussa Dembele Becomes Owner of Lithuanian Club FK Minija Kretinga

French forward Moussa Dembele, renowned for his successful stints at clubs like Celtic, Olympique Lyonnais, and Fulham, has transitioned into football ownership. On Monday, FK Minija Kretinga, a team competing in Lithuania’s second division, confirmed that Dembele, through his directorial role in Triple M Sports Investments Limited, has taken over the club.

This acquisition marks a pivotal moment in both the club’s and the player’s journey, signaling Dembele’s growing involvement in the sport beyond the pitch.

A New Chapter for FK Minija Kretinga

Based in the small city of Kretinga, home to a population of just over 17,000, FK Minija currently plays in I Lyga, Lithuania’s second-tier league. The club is presently ranked ninth out of 16 teams in the standings, but with Dembele’s involvement, big changes could be on the horizon.

Triple M Sports Investments Limited, the company behind the acquisition, also owns AS Mansa in Mali, showcasing a pattern of strategic investments aimed at uplifting lesser-known football establishments. The club’s CEO, Vidas Burba, expressed optimism about the ownership shift: “They now know more about Kretinga than I do. This is a win not only for Kretinga but for all Lithuanian football. We will now move from away from an amateur club to a professional one,” he told Reuters.

Triple M Sports: Building a Global Portfolio

Dembele’s company, Triple M Sports Investments Limited, is positioning itself as a major player in the development of emerging football clubs. The purchase of Minija is not an isolated move; it follows the pattern of investing in AS Mansa in Mali. These acquisitions reflect a long-term vision of elevating grassroots football through better infrastructure, management, and financial backing.

Dembele’s Storied Career: Foundation for Future Success

Dembele’s credibility in the sport is unquestionable. He burst onto the scene as a teenager at Fulham, netting 15 goals in the 2015–16 Championship campaign. His move to Celtic in 2016 on a free transfer proved to be a masterstroke. In his debut season, he scored 32 times across all competitions, with 17 goals in the Scottish Premiership alone, helping Celtic secure a treble and earning a spot in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year.

Brendan Rodgers, who brought him to Parkhead, saw immediate dividends from Dembele’s arrival. Even though his second season wasn’t as prolific, with 16 goals in 39 matches, it was still instrumental in Celtic’s consecutive domestic treble win.

In August 2018, Dembele joined Lyon for a reported £19.7 million. His peak came during the 2021–22 Ligue 1 season, where he tallied 21 goals in 30 appearances. A loan spell at Atletico Madrid in 2021 didn’t bear much fruit, as he returned to Lyon without scoring in seven games.

Continuing the Player Journey Despite Injury

Dembele, still an active player, signed for Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League in 2023. He had a promising start with seven goals in 19 appearances before a ruptured Achilles in February cut his season short. At just 28, his playing career isn’t over, but this off-field venture suggests he’s already preparing for life after football.

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