Major European club Bordeaux sold to English firm Park Bench for 86p

Senior Sports Journalist Isaac Seelochan reported at 16:41 on 25 Sep 2026 that former Champions League side Girondins de Bordeaux will be sold to English investment firm Park Bench for a nominal €1 (86p). The deal, announced at the Tribunal de Commerce, aims to halt the French club's prolonged financial decline.

Financial crisis and failed bids

Bordeaux have grappled with crippling debts for years, slipping from Ligue 1 competition five years ago to the Regional 1 sixth tier of French football. Their previous owners, Gerard Lopez, faced a debt pile of €26 million, while Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group withdrew from a takeover two years ago, leaving the club in limbo.

Deal terms and debt relief

Under the Park Bench agreement, Lopez will sell the club for €1, with the debt to be renegotiated over twelve years instead of ten. The outstanding amount is expected to be halved to €13 million, easing the financial burden considerably.

The club’s recent history includes a Champions League quarter‑final appearance in the 2009/10 season, and a roster that once featured Zinedine Zidane, Christophe Dugarry and Sylvain Wiltord. Those achievements contrast sharply with the current Regional 1 status.

Former England striker Andy Carroll, who joined Bordeaux in 2024, disclosed that his gross monthly salary of €1,614 (£1,372.55) does not even cover his rent. “I won’t tell you the exact figure but to give you an idea, since I moved here, I rent a pretty little house and my salary is less than my rent,” Carroll said, adding that offers from Saudi Arabia did not interest him.

Carroll’s earnings fall below the French minimum wage of €1,801.80 gross for a 35‑hour week, classifying him as a part‑time employee despite playing professional football. The low pay highlights the stark financial realities facing the club.

With the Park Bench acquisition, Bordeaux hope to stabilise their finances and eventually climb back up the French football pyramid, though the road ahead remains challenging.