Sunderland AFC takeover: Club announce deal with Kyril Louis-Dreyfus

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’ takeover of Sunderland AFC has moved close to completion after the club announced the French businessman will take control from Stewart Donald.
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The 23-year-old will take a controlling stake in the football club, subject to EFL approval, after a long period of talks with the current regime.

Current CEO Jim Rodwell confirmed earlier this month that there had been some level of dialogue with the EFL regarding the potential deal, and the club confirmed on Christmas Eve that a deal has been agreed.

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A club statement said: “Sunderland AFC can announce that an agreement has been reached for Kyril Louis-Dreyfus to acquire Stewart Donald’s controlling interest in the club. If approved by the EFL, the deal will see Louis-Dreyfus become chairman at the Wearside club early in the New Year.”

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is moving close to concluding a takeover of Sunderland AFCKyril Louis-Dreyfus is moving close to concluding a takeover of Sunderland AFC
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is moving close to concluding a takeover of Sunderland AFC

The Echo understands that while the decisions surrounding the recent restructuring of the football club, including the appointments of Kristjaan Speakman and Lee Johnson, were taken by the current board, it is a process that Louis-Dreyfus was aware and part of.

He is thought to have ambitious plans for the club, including its Category One Academy, and talked about the club’s culture and traditions when he broke his silence on the deal.

Born in 1997, Louis-Dreyfus is the son of Margarita and the late Robert Louis-Dreyfus.

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Robert’s family founded the Louis-Dreyfus group in 1851, with the company – based in Switzerland – a global leader in agriculture, food processing, international shipping and finance.

After Robert’s passing in 2009, Margarita took over the running of the company.

The family previously owned French side Marseille before selling the club to former LA Dodgers owner Frank McCourt in August 2016.

Robert had purchased the club in 1996 and oversaw a successful period on the field at the Stade Velodrome – with the club twice making it to the UEFA Cup Final.

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The family also held a minority share in Belgian side Standard Liege.

Kyril was a regular supporter of Marseille during the period in which his family owned the club, regularly attending games.

Earlier this month, Rodwell described it as the 'most complicated' takeover he had been part of.

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