€125 million deal puts Erik Stoffelshaus in line for Nantes director

FC Nantes appears on the brink of a sale, with the identity of a prospective sporting director already leaking to the public. The report, first aired on Télé Nantes on Monday, the transaction is close to being finalised and that a German candidate has emerged as the frontrunner.

Deal structure and regulatory hold

Owner Waldemar Kita, who has run the club on the banks of the Erdre since 2007, is said to have reached an agreement with buyer Paulo Tavares for roughly €125 million, bonuses included. Of that sum, €30 million would be placed in a blocked account under the supervision of the DNCG, the French football financial watchdog.

Potential ambassadors and advisory roles

Tele Nantes also suggested that former Real Madrid legend Marcelo and rapper Snoop Dogg could be appointed as club ambassadors, enhancing the brand’s global reach. In addition, Paulo Tavares, the architect of the takeover, may serve as an adviser to the future club president.

The German candidate named is Erik Stoffelshaus, whose résumé includes roles at Schalke 04 and a stint as sporting director of Lokomotiv Moscow. His experience across European football is being touted as a key asset for the new project.

Stoffelshaus is reportedly being positioned to head the sporting department of the Canaris, should the sale proceed. This would place him at the centre of a newly drafted organisational chart that is already taking shape.

As the transaction enters its final phase, the focus shifts to how the incoming ownership will integrate these proposed figures into the club’s structure. The leaked name signals a clear direction for the sporting side of the organisation.

Further details are expected once the sale is officially confirmed, potentially clarifying the exact roles of the ambassadors and the advisory position for Tavares.