Atletico Madrid and its main shareholders – Miguel Angel Gil, Enrique Cerezo, Quantum Pacific Group and funds managed by Ares Management – reached an agreement on Monday for Apollo Sports Capital (ASC), the global sports investment firm of Apollo (NYSE: APO), to become the majority shareholder of the red and white club.
As part of the agreement, Miguel Ángel Gil and Enrique Cerezo will continue to lead Atletico Madrid as CEO and president respectively, and will remain as shareholders, ensuring “the continuity, vision and leadership of the project,” the club said in a statement.
“Under his guidance, over the past two decades, Atlético Madrid has established itself as one of the most successful and recognized football clubs in Europe, achieving sustained sporting success, expanding its brand around the world and strengthening its commitment to society,” states the Colchonera note regarding Enrique Cerezo.
ASC’s investment aims to enhance the club’s position among football’s elite and will support the ambition to achieve long-term success for the club’s fans around the world.
As long-term investors, ASC and the existing shareholders will collaborate with Atletico Madrid’s management to “strengthen the club’s financial strength, sporting competitiveness and contribution to society”.
The new shareholders plan to provide capital to support the club’s long-term plans, including additional investment in Atletico Madrid’s teams and infrastructure projects. Among them is the development of the Sports City, a new sports and entertainment center next to the Riyadh Air Stadium.
“The aim of this project is to become a world-renowned destination for sports, entertainment, culture and community activities,” says the club. “ASC aspires to create a dynamic, transformative and multidisciplinary urban center to serve the people of Madrid.”
The club’s CEO, Miguel Ángel Gil, said they were “very proud” to welcome a new committed member to the club. “Apollo Sports Capital is a great ally that respects the history, traditions and identity of Atletico Madrid and its fans, while providing additional resources and enthusiasm to help maintain our growth and competitiveness,” he noted.
Miguel Ángel Gil added that the next “exciting” phase will depend on the model that has led its progress in recent years, and that Atletico would not be in the position it is today “without the support of the Wanda Group, Quantum Pacific and Ares”, whose support “strengthened” them in crucial moments.
The Red and White captain added: “Our achievements also reflect the dedication of our staff, the commitment of our players and coaches and, above all, the unwavering passion of our fans – the true heart and soul of the club. Looking to the future, together we see a great opportunity to drive the strong and sustainable growth of Atletico Madrid, building on our heritage.”
Gil Marin, who recognized the importance of having a “long-term investment partner” who believes in his “strategy” and can “strengthen” his off-field activities by “developing the sports city”.
For his part, Robert Givony, Apollo Partner and Co-Director of ASC, declared that Atlético Madrid is “one of the major sporting institutions in Europe” and that it is an “honour” for Apollo Sports Capital to invest in a “historic club” with a “legacy spanning more than 120 years”. He said: “Miguel Angel has done an exceptional job in transforming Atletico, and for us it was necessary to invest in supporting the continuity of his leadership, in addition to investing in the team and the local community.”
Givony continued: “We are excited to support the team, honor its spirit and tradition, and add value in areas where we excel, such as growing the Sports City and improving the fan experience. Supporting the ambitious plans for the Sports City can generate significant value for both the club and the local economy.”
Apollo Sports Capital’s investment is subject to compliance with customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. Following the closing of the transaction, Atlético de Madrid – including Atlético de San Luis and Atlético Ottawa – will become majority-owned by Apollo Sports Capital; Miguel Angel Gil, Enrique Cerezo, Quantum Pacific Group and funds managed by Ares Management will remain as minority shareholders. The financial terms of the deal were not announced.
Apollo Sports Capital (ASC) is Apollo’s global sports investment firm. ASC invests across the sports and live events sector, primarily through credit and hybrid investment opportunities. Atletico Madrid will be the main investment holding a majority stake in ASC and is not part of the time-share strategy to control the club.
Apollo Sports Capital’s other recent investments include the Mutua Madrid Open and Miami Open tennis tournaments, in collaboration with MARI, as well as Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro’s new company. ASC is led by its CEO Al Tillis. Co-Directors, Rob Givony and Lee Solomon; and Director of Strategy, Sam Porter.
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