Meet 4 Nigerians who own football clubs in Europe

In this post, News360 Nigeria takes a look at four notable Nigerians who own football clubs in Europe.

In the last decade, European football has witnessed a significant transformation with the influx of billionaire owners.

Traditionally, clubs have been acquired by American billionaires, Asian consortiums, and European entrepreneurs, but now Nigerians are making notable inroads in this competitive landscape.

One prominent figure is Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, who recently expressed his regret over missing the chance to purchase Premier League club Arsenal FC.

In an interview, Dangote revealed that he wished he had invested in the club when it was valued at around $2 billion, lamenting that “time has passed” for such an opportunity.

His interest in the North London club was first announced in 2020, but he ultimately decided to focus his resources on his refinery project.

As the dynamics of football ownership continue to evolve, several Nigerian entrepreneurs have taken significant steps to establish their presence in European football.

Here are four notable Nigerians who own football clubs across the continent;

1. Kunle Soname (C.D. Feirense, Portugal and Remo Stars, Nigeria)

Kunle Soname is a prominent entrepreneur and the chairman of Bet9ja, a popular betting platform he founded in 2013.

In 2015, he made history by acquiring C.D. Feirense, a Portuguese club, becoming the first Nigerian to own a European football team.

In addition to his role in Portugal, Soname is also the founder of *Remo Stars FC, a Nigerian club that plays in the Nigeria Premier League.

Originally established as FC Dender in 2004, Remo Stars was relocated from Lagos State to the Remo area of Ogun State, showcasing Soname’s commitment to developing football in Nigeria.

2. Shola Akinlade (Aarhus Fremad, Denmark and Sporting Lagos FC, Nigeria)

Shola Akinlade, co-founder and CEO of Paystack (now part of Stripe), has recently made waves in European football with his acquisition of  Aarhus Fremad, a Danish club.

Akinlade purchased a 55% stake in the 76-year-old club, which competes in the second division of the Danish League.

Aarhus Fremad is currently positioned for potential promotion, sitting second in their league. Furthermore, Akinlade founded Sporting Lagos FC in 2022, which plays in the Nigeria National League.

This acquisition not only marks a significant investment in Danish football but also creates a sister club relationship between Aarhus and Sporting Lagos.

3. Dorothy Nneka Ede (Lusitano Ginásio Clube, Portugal)

Dorothy Nneka Ede stands out as the first Nigerian woman to own a football club in Europe.

In June 2020, she acquired Lusitano Ginásio Clube, also known as Lusitano de Évora, a club that competes in the Campeonato de Portugal, the fourth tier of the Portuguese football league system.

Ede’s ownership of this historic club, which has a capacity of 10,000 at its home stadium, marks a significant achievement for women in football management and ownership.

4. Dozy Mmobuosi (Sheffield United)

Dozy Mmobuosi, a Nigerian tech billionaire, is reportedly finalizing a £115 million takeover of  Sheffield United, an English club.

His company, Tingo Group, boasts impressive financials, with revenues nearing £1 billion and a cash balance of approximately £400 million.

Mmobuosi’s planned acquisition reflects the growing influence of Nigerian entrepreneurs in global football, signaling a significant shift in club ownership dynamics.