Sparta Capital's €10m pledge fuels new era for Bordeaux under Delport

While FC Girondins de Bordeaux grappled with financial uncertainty and a recent 2‑1 friendly defeat, former M6 editor Dominique Delport announced on X Friday evening that he will become the club’s future president, a move announced hours after Sparta Capital’s acquisition and its promised €9‑10 million injection.

The club, owned by Gérard Lopez since 2021, was sold to the British investment fund Sparta Capital earlier on Friday, a transaction described as redrawing French football. The sale marks a new chapter for the Girondins de Bordeaux.

Sparta Capital pledged an injection of between €9 million and €10 million to meet the financial obligations of the 2025‑2026 and 2026‑2027 seasons. The funding aims to avoid liquidation and to enable the club’s return to National 1, the fourth tier, pending a CNOSF review.

Delport announced the news on X under the tag GirondinsAujourd’hui, thanking Sparta Capital and its partners at Park Bench LLC, led by James Bord. He said the partnership will help write a new chapter for the iconic French football club.

James Bord is an English entrepreneur and poker player who holds a minority stake in Spanish second‑division side Córdoba and a majority stake in Scottish second‑division club Dunfermline. He is among the new investors supporting the Girondins de Bordeaux.

Before entering football administration, Dominique Delport served as director general of Havas Media and sat on Vivendi’s supervisory board, highlighting his media experience. He added that further details will be shared once the necessary regulatory approvals are obtained.

The first team, coached by former international midfielder Rio Mavuba, has seen its preparation disrupted by recent financial and administrative turmoil and by fires near Haillan, limiting training sessions in recent weeks. These challenges have left the squad lacking regular practice ahead of the new season.

On Friday the side played a friendly against Bayonne in Hagetmau, Landes, and lost 2‑1. The defeat underscores the need for stability as the club moves forward under its new leadership.