Six-time French champions Bordeaux sold to Park Bench for a symbolic one euro

Girondins de Bordeaux, the 145-year-old club that won Ligue 1 six times, has been sold for a symbolic one euro to investment firm Park Bench, which will take on around 18 million euros of debt.

Girondins de Bordeaux, the 145-year-old club that won the French title six times, has been sold to investment firm Park Bench for a symbolic one euro. The club said the sale was concluded “for a symbolic euro with the assumption of debts” and called it a major step for its future.

The crest of Girondins de Bordeaux

Park Bench will take on around 18 million euros of debt and place 10.6 million euros in escrow, along with further advances, to cover wages and operations. Under a deal with creditors, the debt has been cut to around 13 million euros and repayment spread over 12 years.

The sale still needs the approval of the Bordeaux commercial court and the regional financial control commission. Dominique Delport is set to become president, while coach Arnaud Cormier will stay on.

Former Bordeaux owner Gérard Lopez (file)

Park Bench, founded by American Evan Sofer and Briton James Bord, is a data analytics and software-focused investment firm that is the majority shareholder of Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic and holds a stake in Spanish second-tier side Córdoba.

Bordeaux fans in the Virage Sud stand at Matmut Atlantique (file)

The sale ends Gérard Lopez’s five-year ownership. Founded in 1881 and last crowned champions in 2008-09, Bordeaux have slid to Régional 1, France’s sixth tier, after two court-supervised financial crises since 2021 and successive relegations.