Ligue 2 team become tenth club under CFG umbrella
City Football Group (CFG) have acquired Ligue 2 side Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne (ESTAC), it was announced today. The French team, who ended the 2019/20 season in fourth place in Ligue 2, become the 10th club under the CFG umbrella.
Ferran Soriano, Chief Executive of City Football Group, said:
“We have had an interest in French football for some time and have long admired ESTAC, so we are delighted to have completed the acquisition of our tenth club and have a permanent presence in France. This is a milestone for City Football Group and demonstrates how our model continues to adapt and grow in a relatively short space of time.
“At City Football Group, our objective remains to play beautiful football, identify and develop grassroots talent and have a permanent presence in the world’s football centres. There is no doubt that France is one of the top football countries in the world and we are proud to be part of that community. We look forward to getting to know our new home and the Club’s fans and working together to create a bright future for ESTAC. We would also like to thank Mr Masoni for all his contributions to the Club”.
Outgoing Chairman Daniel Masoni added:
“I am happy that we were able to come to an agreement with the City Football Group and its representatives, in conditions that allow the club to assure a certain continuity in its values which have given ESTAC strength in recent years, and notably the continued desire to work with the local economy. I thank also the minority share holders who majorly contributed to allowing this deal to come to pass. That such an organisation is interested in ESTAC is a source of pride, personally, but also collectively, for all collaborators who have been working with me for several years.”
“I am proud to have carried the club for the last 11 years, which were very intense, both personally and professionally. I am handing over a club today that is well anchored in the professional world, recognised by its peers in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 with a much greater sporting and financial capacity than what it had when the club was relegated to the 3rd division.”
“City Football Group correspond with the profile of investor that I wanted, to assure that the club would undergo a significant evolution, and benefit from healthy and solid bases, both financially and structurally. The profile of the buyer will allow us to continue to guarantee the values that breathe life into the club and in the organisation, with confidence in the people already in place.”