Soccer superstar Lionel Messi is now the official club owner of Spanish second division club CD Eldense. “Club Deportivo Eldense officially announces that Leo Messi has taken over the club, marking the beginning of a new and exciting stage in the club’s over 100-year history,” said the club from the province of Alicante.
The club, founded in 1921, is approaching this new stage with the aim of “establishing and developing itself in professional football while at the same time conveying its roots, its history and its “Azulgrana” identity,” it said. The transaction still needs to be approved by the Supreme Sports Council. However, this is considered a formality. The club did not provide any information about the financial conditions.
First professional club that Messi takes over
The Argentine soccer world champion of 2022 had previously reached an agreement in principle with the previous owners, the TH Soluciones group, about the acquisition of the majority shares. This makes Messi the majority shareholder of the traditional club from the 55,000-inhabitant town of Elda.
For the 39-year-old, Eldense is the second engagement as majority shareholder at a Spanish club and the first at a professional club. The former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain professional, who is currently completing his fourth season with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, is already the owner of fifth division club UE Cornellà.