US investor saves Girondins Bordeaux for one euro

The heavily indebted, six‑time French champion Girondins Bordeaux is being sold for a symbolic euro to US‑investor Park Bench. The deal takes over the club’s debts from the previous owner Gerard Lopez, the club in Bordeaux announced.

Financial rescue by US‑investor

The purchase is intended to cover a financing need of about ten million euros, arising from outstanding transfer fees and training compensation. According to Sud Ouest, the debts are to be restructured and the repayment period extended.

The club was forced down from the fourth to at least the sixth division in the summer due to multi‑million‑euro payment gaps. Previously, Girondins Bordeaux, the former club of Zinedine Zidane, had been excluded from all national leagues and would have to restart athletically in the sixth‑tier R1.

Bordeaux sold for one euro as French football faces historic crisis

Within the framework of the legal takeover procedure, the buyers will be heard in the coming days by the regional control commission of the football league. This is intended to avert the threatened liquidation of the club.

The takeover marks an important milestone for the future of the historic club. Already in 2024, Girondins Bordeaux had been relegated from the second to the fourth division, so the current financial relief opens up new perspectives.