News Focus
- Ahmet Schaefer will sell the club after seven years in charge
- New owners plan to appoint Baptiste Drouet as the new sporting director
- The club currently plays in Ligue 2 following relegation from the top flight last year
- Jacques d’Arrigo leads the incoming Franco-American investment group
French second-tier side Clermont Foot are preparing for a major change in ownership. A Franco-American investment group has reached an agreement to purchase the club from its current owner, Ahmet Schaefer.
The Swiss businessman bought the club seven years ago for roughly €4 million. During his time at the helm, the team won promotion to Ligue 1 in 2021. They spent three seasons in the top division and achieved an eighth-place finish in 2023. However, their fortunes reversed last term when they finished at the bottom of the table and dropped back down. Since then, results have remained poor. The club placed 16th two seasons ago and finished 13th in the most recent campaign.
According to reports from L’Équipe, Schaefer has wanted to sell the club since January. The new buyers are a Franco-American group led by Jacques d’Arrigo, who previously served as commercial director at Girondins de Bordeaux.
The takeover deal is now complete. The incoming owners are already making plans for the club’s future structure. They intend to hire Baptiste Drouet as the new sporting director. Drouet previously worked in a similar role at FC Nantes.