Atlético de Madrid and its main shareholders Miguel Ángel Gil, Enrique Cerezo, Quantum Pacific Group and funds managed by Ares Management reached an agreement on Monday under which Apollo Sports Capital (ASC), the global sports investment company of Apollo (NYSE: APO), will become the majority shareholder of the red-and-white club.
As part of the agreement, Miguel Ángel Gil and Enrique Cerezo will continue to lead Atlético Madrid as CEO and president respectively, and will also remain shareholders, ensuring “the continuity and vision of the project and its leadership,” the club said in a statement.
“Under his leadership, over the past 20 years, Atlético Madrid has established itself as one of Europe’s most successful and recognized football clubs, achieved continued sporting success, expanded its brand around the world and strengthened its commitment to local communities,” the Colchonera memo states regarding Enrique Cerezo.
ASC’s investment aims to strengthen the club’s position among football’s elite and supports its ambition to deliver long-term success for the club’s fans around the world.
As long-term investors, ASC and its current shareholders will work with Atlético Madrid’s management to “strengthen the club’s financial strength, sporting competitiveness and commitment to the community.”
The new shareholders will provide capital to support the club’s long-term plans, including further investment in Atlético Madrid’s squad and infrastructure projects. This includes the development of Sports City, a new sports and entertainment center adjacent to Riyadh Air Metropolitan Stadium.
“The aim of this project is to become a world-renowned destination for sports, leisure, culture and community activities. ASC aims to serve the people of Madrid and create a dynamic, transformative and multidisciplinary urban centre,” the club said.
The club’s CEO, Miguel Ángel Gil, said he was “very proud” to welcome the new members who will contribute to the club. “Apollo Sports Capital is a great ally who will provide us with additional resources and enthusiasm to maintain our growth and competitiveness, while respecting the history, tradition and identity of Atlético Madrid and its fans,” he said.
Miguel Ángel Gil said the next “exciting” phase would rely on the model that has driven progress in recent years, adding that Atlético would not be in the position it is in today “without the support of Wanda Group, Quantum Pacific and Ares”. Their support has “strengthened” us at critical moments.
“Our achievements also reflect the dedication of our employees, the commitment of our players and coaches and, above all, the unwavering passion of our fans, who are the true heart and soul of our club. Looking to the future, we see a great opportunity to jointly build on our heritage and drive the solid and sustainable growth of Atlético Madrid,” added the Red-White leader.
Gilles Marin confessed that it was important to have a “long-term investment partner” who believed in his “strategy” and could “boost” his off-field activities by “developing a sports city”.
Robert Givone, partner at Apollo and co-manager of ASC, said Atlético Madrid is “one of Europe’s great sporting institutions” and that Apollo Sports Capital is “honoured” to invest in a “historic club” with “over 120 years of tradition”. “Miguel Ángel has done an extraordinary job transforming Atlético. It was essential for us to invest in the team and the local community, as well as to support his continued leadership,” he said.
“We are excited to support the team, respect its spirit and tradition, and add value in areas where we excel, such as growing Sports City and improving the fan experience. Supporting Sports City’s ambitious plans can create significant value for both the club and the local economy,” Givone continued.
Apollo Sports Capital’s investment is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. Following the completion of the transaction, Apollo Sports Capital will own the majority of Atlético Madrid, including Atlético de San Luis and Atlético Ottawa. Funds managed by Miguel Ángel Gil, Enrique Cerezo, Quantum Pacific Group and Ares Management will remain minority shareholders. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Apollo Sports Capital (ASC) is a global sports investment firm affiliated with Apollo. ASC invests across the sports sector and in live events, primarily through credit and hybrid investment opportunities. Atlético Madrid will be the main investment destination with a majority stake in ASC and will not be part of Club Control’s timeshare strategy.
Other recent investments by Apollo Sports Capital include the Mutua Madrid Open and Miami Open tennis tournaments in collaboration with MARI, and Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro’s new company. ASC is led by CEO Al Tylis. co-managers Rob Gibborn and Lee Solomon; and Sam Porter, Director of Strategy.
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