Amadora, Portugal – An international investment consortium led by ADvantage and LEAD, with backing from the KI Group, has acquired a 90% ownership stake in Primeira Liga club Estrela da Amadora. The deal, valued at €40 million (approximately $47 million), was confirmed by the club on Tuesday.
The consortium includes three recent World Cup winners: Germany’s Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels, who helped the national team lift the trophy in 2014, and France’s Lucas Hernández, a member of the 2018 champion squad. Former Swiss international goalkeeper Yann Sommer, now with Club Brugge, is also listed among the investors.
Background on the club and the transaction
Estrela da Amadora’s former owner and president, Paulo Lopo, sold the club after purchasing it for €72,000 in 2020. The dramatic increase in valuation reflects the club’s rapid rise through Portugal’s football hierarchy. After a merger with Sintra in 2020, Estrela returned to the third tier, earned promotion to the second division, and secured a place in the top flight for the 2023 season.
In its most recent campaign, Estrela finished 15th out of 18 teams, avoiding relegation by virtue of a superior head‑to‑head record against Casa Pia. The club is based in the municipality of Amadora, located about 10 kilometers northwest of Lisbon.
New leadership and future plans
Johannes Mösmang, a 35‑year‑old who spent a decade in Bayern Munich’s player‑management department, will assume the presidency of Estrela, succeeding Lopo. The new ownership group intends to leverage the experience and global networks of its high‑profile members to strengthen the club’s sporting and commercial operations.
While specific investment strategies have not been disclosed, the involvement of former elite players suggests a focus on talent development, scouting, and potentially expanding the club’s brand internationally. Müller, currently playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps, and Hummels, a long‑time Bayern Munich stalwart, have previously collaborated with Hernández during their overlapping tenures at Bayern.
Implications for Portuguese football
The acquisition marks one of the most high‑profile foreign investments in Portuguese football in recent years. It underscores a growing trend of former professional athletes turning to club ownership, bringing both capital and on‑field expertise to clubs seeking stability and growth.
Local supporters have expressed optimism that the new leadership will provide the resources needed to solidify Estrela’s place in the Primeira Liga and possibly challenge for higher league positions in the coming seasons.
As the club prepares for the upcoming season, fans will be watching closely to see how the blend of World Cup experience and business acumen translates into performance on the pitch.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
