Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has become the latest high-profile figure to invest in French club Le Mans. The Belgian international has joined tennis legend Novak Djokovic and former Formula One drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen as co-owner of the Ligue 2 outfit.
Le Mans were acquired by Brazilian investment firm OutField last summer, with Courtois now taking a stake through his company NxtPlay. The club currently sits fifth in France’s second tier, just three points behind the leaders, and has drawn comparisons to Wrexham AFC, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, thanks to the celebrity ownership.
In an official statement, Le Mans said: « A two-time UEFA Champions League winner and iconic goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois brings top-level expertise, both on and off the pitch. » The 33-year-old, who spent seven seasons at Chelsea, is not the first footballer to venture into club ownership.
Indeed, he’s following the example of two Real Madrid colleagues, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. Mbappe has held a majority stake in French side SM Caen for nearly two years, having invested £12.6m in July 2024. Caen compete in the third tier of French football, one division below Le Mans.
Meanwhile, Vinicius is engaged at an even more significant level as a majority stakeholder in Portuguese side FC Alverca. They secured promotion to the Primeira Liga last season and are presently 10th in the standings.
Le Mans announced in a statement: « Having acquired a stake in Le Mans FC this summer, the Brazilian group OutField is now taking another step forward by finalising the acquisition of the club alongside a strengthened group of world-renowned athletes and European investors.
« This increased commitment aims to accelerate and consolidate the structural development of Le Mans FC. Working alongside Thierry Gomez, the club’s president, OutField will provide the necessary resources to support and amplify the project’s growth.
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« One of the project’s pillars is already underway: the construction of a training centre dedicated to developing local talent. In the medium term, the objective is to make Le Mans FC a national benchmark in youth development, making it a strategic driver of growth and a sustainable talent pool for the first team.
« As he approaches his tenth year as president, Thierry Gomez will remain at the heart of the project he initiated in 2016: building a structured and resilient club for the long term.
« For nine years, extensive work has been carried out to strengthen the club’s organisation, develop youth training, support the growth of the women’s section, and unite all stakeholders of Le Mans FC: players, staff, employees, volunteers, partners, and supporters.
« The ambition is to build an ambitious and sustainable football club, rooted in the city’s iconic motorsport heritage and a globally recognised brand identity. The priorities are strengthening sporting performance and developing the club’s brand, both locally and internationally, in order to fully unlock the sporting and commercial potential of Le Mans FC. »
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