Atlético de Madrid Welcomes Apollo Sports Capital as Majority Shareholder

Atlético de Madrid and its major shareholders – Miguel Ángel Gil, Enrique Cerezo, Quantum Pacific Group and Ares Management funds – have reached an agreement for Apollo Sports Capital (‘ASC’), the global sports investment company of Apollo (NYSE: APO), to become the Club’s majority shareholder.

As part of the agreement, Mr Gil and Mr Cerezo will continue to lead Atlético de Madrid as Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively, and will remain shareholders, ensuring continuity of vision and leadership. Over the last two decades, Atlético de Madrid has become one of Europe’s most successful and recognized football institutions under Mr Gil’s and Mr Cerezo’s stewardship, achieving sustained sporting success, global brand growth and a strong community presence.

The investment by ASC will reinforce the Club’s position among football’s elite and support its ambition to deliver long-term success for millions of fans worldwide. As long-term investors, ASC and the existing shareholders will partner with Atlético de Madrid’s management to enhance the Club’s financial strength, sporting competitiveness and community impact.

The shareholder group intends to invest additional capital to support the Club’s long-term plans, including further investment in Atlético de Madrid’s teams and in major infrastructure projects. This includes the development of the Ciudad del Deporte, a new sports and entertainment district adjacent to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium designed to serve as a world-class destination for sport, leisure, culture and community activity. Drawing on Apollo’s deep expertise across the sports, media and entertainment ecosystem, ASC aims to create a vibrant, transformative, multi-use urban hub serving the wider Madrid community.

Chief Executive Officer of Atlético de Madrid Miguel Ángel Gil said, “We are very proud to welcome a committed new partner to the club. Apollo Sports Capital is a powerful ally who respects the history, traditions and defining identity of Atlético de Madrid and its fans, while bringing additional strength and enthusiasm to help maintain our growth and competitiveness.”

Mr Gil added: “This exciting next phase will build on the model that has driven our progress in recent years, and Atlético would not be in the position it finds itself today without the support of Wanda Group, Quantum Pacific and Ares, whose backing has strengthened us at pivotal moments. Our achievements also reflect the dedication of our employees, the commitment from our players and coaches and, above all, the unwavering passion of our fans – the true heart and soul of the club.”

“Looking ahead, together we see significant opportunity to drive strong, sustainable growth of Atlético de Madrid as we build on our remarkable legacy. It was important to me to select a long-term investment partner who believes in our strategy and can enhance our activities off the pitch with the development of Ciudad del Deporte,” concluded Mr. Gil.

Apollo Partner and co-Portfolio Manager of ASC Robert Givone said, “Atlético de Madrid is one of Europe’s great sporting institutions and we are honored for Apollo Sports Capital to invest in this storied club and its more than 120-year heritage. Miguel Ángel has done a tremendous job transforming Atlético and it was important to us that we invest behind his continued leadership, in addition to investing in the team and the local community.”

Givone continued, “We’re excited to back the team and honor its spirit and traditions, and to add value in areas where we excel, such as growth of the Ciudad del Deporte and enhancing the fan experience. Supporting the ambitious plans for the sports city can create significant value for both the Club and the local economy.”

The investment by Apollo Sports Capital is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in Q1 2026. Upon close, Atlético de Madrid, including Atlético de San Luis and Atlético Ottawa, will be majority owned by Apollo Sports Capital alongside Mr Gil, Mr Cerezo, Quantum Pacific Group and Ares Management funds, as shareholders. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Apollo Sports Capital is a global sports investment company and affiliate of Apollo. ASC invests across the sports and live events ecosystem, predominantly in credit and hybrid investment opportunities. Atlético de Madrid will be ASC’s flagship majority equity investment and is not part of a multi-club control ownership strategy. Other recent investments by Apollo Sports Capital include the Mutua Madrid Open and Miami Open tennis tournaments, in partnership with Ari Emmanuel and Mark Shapiro’s new company MARI. ASC is led by CEO Al Tylis, co-Portfolio Managers Rob Givone and Lee Solomon, and Chief Strategy Officer Sam Porter.

A&O Shearman acted as legal counsel to Apollo Sports Capital. ECIJA acted as legal counsel to Mr Gil and Mr Cerezo.