Douala · CameroonWONE Global Capability Partner · Cameroon
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Cases · Specialist sectors · Sports, athletes & sporting institutions
Invest in or buy a sports club abroad
We want to buy a sports club abroad. What should we know?
WONE Global runs diligence, handles league and regulatory approvals and completes the transaction locally.
Countries in the typical case United States · Portugal
The situation
What is happening
An investor wants to acquire a club or a stake in one in another country.
What is at stake
Clubs carry hidden liabilities, licensing conditions and ownership rules that can block a deal.
Who faces this
- Corporations
- Private clients and families
A scenario
Investor groupCorporation · from United States · in Portugal
It is buying a majority stake in a Portuguese football club.
Where it ends A club bought without surprises.
A representative scenario of the work WONE Global coordinates, not a specific client’s matter.
Also asked as “Club acquisition due diligence”“Ownership rules for sports clubs”“A sports investment fund is acquiring an interest in a club”
The solution
How WONE Global handles it
WONE Global runs diligence, handles league and regulatory approvals and completes the transaction locally.
Usually led by Buying, selling and investing, with Licences, permits and regulators, Audit and Tax and structuring.
Step by step, in the scenario
- Weeks 1-4Diligence.
- Weeks 5-8League approvals.
- Weeks 9-10Completion.
- ThenGovernance set.
Timings are typical. They depend on the countries, the authorities involved and how quickly documents are available.
Decisions
The decisions involved
- 01Ownership rules of the league and governing body
- 02Financial due diligence and debt
- 03Fan, stadium and licensing commitments
Outcomes
What you receive
- Due diligence and approvals
- Acquisition documents
- Governance and compliance in place
This is a general guide. Your WONE Global professional confirms the work, timing and fees for your markets before anything starts.
Services
The services involved
One area of expertise usually leads; the others move with it. WONE Global keeps them connected across every country involved.
Who handles it
Buying, selling and investing, market by market
The status of the lead service in the markets that matter for this case. A named WONE Global Partner acts under their own licence; where none is in place yet, WONE Global confirms availability before anything else.
- United Statesin the typical case WONE Global Partner F Miles Adler · Principal Brief this Partner →
- Portugalin the typical case On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- Cameroon WONE Global Partner Edmond Christian AKOA MBALLA · Founder & Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- China WONE Global Partner Roberto Gilardino · Regional Partner North Asia & additional countries Brief this Partner →
- Colombia WONE Global Partner Katherin Diaz Velilla · Co-Founder Brief this Partner →
- Germany WONE Global Partner Ulrike Berner, MBA · Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- Hong Kong WONE Global Partner Yvonne Chow · Partner Brief this Partner →
- Israel WONE Global Partner Karin Horev · Founding Partner Brief this Partner →
- Italy WONE Global Partner Francesco Mangiameli · Founding & Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- Mexico WONE Global Partner Miguel Angel Asencio Asencio · Founder, Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- Morocco WONE Global Partner Mouad Aktaou · Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- Panama WONE Global Partner Ebrahim Asvat K. · Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- Rwanda WONE Global Partner Lydie N. Murorunkwere · Founder & Managing Director Brief this Partner →
- Zambia WONE Global Partner Reagan Blankfein Gates · Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- India On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- Saudi Arabia On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- Singapore On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- United Arab Emirates On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- United Kingdom On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
Other markets: WONE Global covers 100 countries. Name yours in the requirement →
Douala · Cameroon
Shanghai · ChinaWONE Global Capability Partner · China
Roberto Gilardino
- Contracts and commercial lawNamed lead
- Buying, selling and investingNamed lead
- Anti-bribery, sanctions and complianceNamed lead
Roberto Gilardino is Regional Partner at Horizons, supervising the advisory’s activities in North Asia as well as additional countries (including Mongolia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, UAE, Cyprus and Malta).
Bogotá · ColombiaWONE Global Capability Partner · Colombia
Katherin Diaz Velilla
Complete profile
- Tax and structuringNamed lead
- Licences, permits and regulatorsNamed lead
- Buying, selling and investingNamed lead
International tax attorney and strategic advisor with 12+ years across Colombia's DIAN, Ministry of Finance, Senate, Presidency, and EY. Co-founder of V&V Asociados. Specializes in cross-border tax structuring, transfer…
Munich · GermanyWONE Global Capability Partner · Germany
Ulrike Berner, MBA
Ulrike Berner has been Managing Director and shareholder of BSP since 2021, leading the strategic direction, client relationships, and business development of the firm. She has extensive experience working with firms an…
Kowloon · Hong KongWONE Global Capability Partner · Hong Kong
Yvonne Chow
Ms. Chow, our director, graduated from Smith College (US), and obtained her master's degree in Religion from Yale University. She is an associate member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Institu…
Tel Aviv · IsraelWONE Global Capability Partner · Israel
Karin Horev
- Contracts and commercial lawNamed lead
- Buying, selling and investingNamed lead
- Data protection and cyberNamed lead
Adv. Karin Horev has been practicing corporate and commercial law for more than 20 years, with a focus on complex technology-related matters. Over the years, Karin has led a large number of complex and wide-ranging tran…
Discover
Where this case connects
The markets, corridors and guides behind this case, and the questions to put to Ask WONE below. Every link opens a page that links back here.
Markets in the typical case
Corridors
Services and subject
Worked examples
How it goes in practice
Researched corridor journeys, and representative scenarios on the same subject. None is a specific client’s matter.
- India ↔ United States · researched journeyAn Indian software company sets up a US subsidiary to sell and later raise capitalRead the journey →
- United States ↔ Brazil · researched journeyA US company opens a subsidiary in BrazilRead the journey →
- Sport and entertainment · from Portugal · in Saudi ArabiaHe is signing with a Saudi club from a European club.How WONE Global handles it →
Sports, athletes & sporting institutions
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WONE Global Intelligence
Ask about doing business across borders
Ask in your own words. Answers come from WONE Global's checked records, with every source shown, and end with the named Partner who can act. Go deeper on any point, or build a decision file.