Aston Villa is planning to purchase a share of Vitoria SC, a football club in the Primeira Liga.
The owners of Villa, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, are aiming to acquire a 46% stake in the Portuguese team as part of their efforts to expand globally.
V Sports, which is owned by Villa, has already entered into a sale and purchase agreement, with the deal reportedly worth about £4.9 million, according to The Athletic.
Vitória SC must ratify the agreement, but the club considers it an “important step forward” in V Sports’ global expansion plans.
Vitoria SC is an established top-flight club that was formed in 1922 and has competed frequently in European football competitions, including the UEFA Cup quarter-final in 1987, when they faced Aston Villa, who they also played against in the same competition in 1983.
Chairman Nassef Sawiris, a director of V Sports, said: “V Sports is delighted to be partnering with Vitória Sport Clube.Discussions, which have been ongoing for almost two years, have progressed thanks to the positive steps taken by the new management team led by Antonio Miguel Cardoso whose energy and vision has been a crucial component in reaching this agreement.”
António Miguel Cardoso, President of Vitória Sport Clube, said: “Since first meeting we found out that Mr Nassef Sawiris is a man of serious commitments and available to be the right partner which VSC needs in this important moment of our history.”Aston Villa Football Club is ultimately wholly owned by V Sports, a joint venture set up by Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens. V Sports purchased Aston Villa in July 2018.
