Aston Villa can confirm the club’s holding company, V Sports, has entered into a sale and purchase agreement to acquire 46 per cent of the shares in Portuguese club Vitória Sport Clube.
The agreement, which requires ratification by members of Vitória Sport Clube, signals an important step forward in the global expansion of the V Sports portfolio.
Formed in 1922, the Primeira Liga side are an established top-flight club and have competed regularly in European football competitions, reaching the Uefa Cup quarter-final in 1987. They also faced Villa in the same competition in 1983.
V Sports aims to create a synergy amongst clubs in its group that will encourage the sharing of worldwide scouting networks, academy coaching methodologies, best practice and youth academy development strategies across Europe and Africa.
Chairman Nassef Sawiris, a director of V Sports, said: “V Sports is delighted to be partnering with Vitória Sport Clube.
“Discussions, which have been ongoing for almost two years, have progressed thanks to the positive steps taken by the new management team led by Antonio Miguel Cardoso whose energy and vision has been a crucial component in reaching this agreement.”
António Miguel Cardoso, President of Vitória Sport Clube, said: “Since first meeting we found out that Mr Nassef Sawiris is a man of serious commitments and available to be the right partner which VSC needs in this important moment of our history."
Aston Villa Football Club is ultimately wholly owned by V Sports, a joint venture set up by Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens. V Sports purchased Aston Villa in July 2018.
