AS Monaco Offer to Cercle Brugge Accepted

Ligue 1 football team AS Monaco have agreed a deal to purchase a majority stake of Belgian side Cercle Brugge KSV.

The Belgian second-tier outfit have formally accepted the French club’s proposal to become their major shareholders, which was reported in February.

The current Ligue 1 leaders have announced that a key motive behind the deal was youth development, with a Cercle Brugge promotion to the top tier another vital objective. Monaco are expected to loan multiple young prospects to Brugge, in order to expose them to senior first-team football. Chelsea operate a similar deal with Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem.

No financial terms behind the deal have been released, but Cercle Brugge shareholders must give approval before the sale is confirmed.

Monaco currently sit top of the French top tier, but trail 5-3 to Manchester City after the first leg of the Champions League knockout round.