Pace/ALK set to buy Espanyol?

[Chester Perry]

Hi CP, I'm curious about your words. What exactly has been "public knowledge for a while?" The deal has only been confirmed today. Has there been any previous public announcement on the structure of acquisition of Espanyol?

Media reports that the deal was:
- not for the whole shareholding of the sellers,
- payment would be made in stages
- there is a potential for a bonus based on performance

also I would not be surprised if there is a ringfence on the remaining shareholding - though that has not been made clear

[ClaretPete001]

I read somewhere last week that leveraged deals aren't allowed in Spain.

Leveraged deals like the one used to buy Burnley aren't but there are lots of ways to skin a cat in business.

[IanMcL]

Mr Pace taking his eye off the Burnley ball?

Burnley owner staying in Barcelona to m ... CytUsiem7J

[morninbob]

Loan signings going to Espanol, we're expected to spend over 100m euros.

https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/espany ... -119705192

[Goliath]

Loan signings going to Espanol, we're expected to spend over 100m euros.

https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/espany ... -119705192

There's some.worrying stuff in this article. He plans to reside in Barcelona, this is the guy who runs our club day to day and seems to be involved in basically everything. To suddenly just up sticks and move to Barcelona doesn't seem to help us in the slightest.

Also it's the first time I've seen it confirmed that Espanyol is the parent club. Again we'll have to wait and see but on the face of it that doesn't sound great either.

[randomclaret2]

The investment group led by Alan Pace, which has reached an agreement to acquire Espanyol, is analyzing other investments in European football to complete a top-level football timeshare. Currently, Velocity Sport, the vehicle of Pace's investment fund, controls Burnley and will do the same with Espanyol. It is also currently exploring the acquisition of Belgian club KV Kortrijk. In addition, they signed a collaboration agreement with Dundee in Scotland in 2024, which could expand in the coming months.

[ClaretTony]

There's some.worrying stuff in this article. He plans to reside in Barcelona, this is the guy who runs our club day to day and seems to be involved in basically everything. To suddenly just up sticks and move to Barcelona doesn't seem to help us in the slightest.

Also it's the first time I've seen it confirmed that Espanyol is the parent club. Again we'll have to wait and see but on the face of it that doesn't sound great either.

It doesn't sound great the other way round either, multi club ownership is so, so wrong.

[randomclaret2]

For Pace, the purchase of Espanyol was an absolute priority, and the blue and white club will become the parent team of the group, with which it hopes to operate by investing in signings starting in the second year and when the income level is more consolidated. For now, Espanyol will be able to benefit from some top-level loan signings from Burnley, a club that does have a wide margin of financial fair play and is signing numerous players this summer with an investment that will exceed 100 million euros.

[randomclaret2]

Alan Pace's idea was to also acquire the Belgian club this summer, but its relegation to the Second Division left the deal hanging in the air, although it is very likely to become a reality. For Velocity Sport, it is important to enter a market like Belgium, where its youth teams are producing top-level players, with some already selling for millions of euros to clubs around the world.

[ClaretTony]

Alan Pace's idea was to also acquire the Belgian club this summer, but its relegation to the Second Division left the deal hanging in the air, although it is very likely to become a reality. For Velocity Sport, it is important to enter a market like Belgium, where its youth teams are producing top-level players, with some already selling for millions of euros to clubs around the world.

He was linked with Kortrijk a year ago.

[randomclaret2]

Pace, who has already met with Espanyol executives, intends to practically reside in Barcelona to ensure the Blue and Whites' growth in the sport. For now, the American tycoon will control the transfer market from now until the end of August, and some significant signings are expected. The new owners have been studying the Blue and Whites' salary cap for some time now and looking for ways to build a much more competitive team.

[BigChaCha]

by randomclaret2 » Tue Jul 15, 2025 11:52 am

For Pace, the purchase of Espanyol was an absolute priority, and the blue and white club will become the parent team of the group, with which it hopes to operate by investing in signings starting in the second year and when the income level is more consolidated. For now, Espanyol will be able to benefit from some top-level loan signings from Burnley, a club that does have a wide margin of financial fair play and is signing numerous players this summer with an investment that will exceed 100 million euros.

Alan Pace's idea was to also acquire the Belgian club this summer, but its relegation to the Second Division left the deal hanging in the air, although it is very likely to become a reality. For Velocity Sport, it is important to enter a market like Belgium, where its youth teams are producing top-level players, with some already selling for millions of euros to clubs around the world.

Have a break from Google and ChatGPT for a minute, will you!

[NewClaret]

For Pace, the purchase of Espanyol was an absolute priority, and the blue and white club will become the parent team of the group, with which it hopes to operate by investing in signings starting in the second year and when the income level is more consolidated. For now, Espanyol will be able to benefit from some top-level loan signings from Burnley, a club that does have a wide margin of financial fair play and is signing numerous players this summer with an investment that will exceed 100 million euros.

Really don’t think that will be the case, simply because players that succeed in the Premier League sell for the most money and English clubs also far out spend foreign clubs. It’ll all be geared around that.

Do expect he’ll spend some time in Barcelona to get things up and running. There will be a lot of work to do.

[randomclaret2]

Have a break from Google and ChatGPT for a minute, will you!

Feel free to read it in Spanish if you prefer

[Big Vinny K]

Not sure on the accuracy of this report around Espanyol being the parent club given we are far bigger than them in financial terms.

But whether it’s true or not I’m still massively against the multi club ownership model irrespective of whether we are the parent club or the feeder club. If Espanyol are the parent club then this is even worse for Burnley but it’s not good whichever way round the relationship is.

The way football has gone recently and the direction it’s now going is grim to say the least.

[BigChaCha]

Goliath wrote: ↑Tue Jul 15, 2025 11:46 am
There's some.worrying stuff in this article. He plans to reside in Barcelona, this is the guy who runs our club day to day and seems to be involved in basically everything. To suddenly just up sticks and move to Barcelona doesn't seem to help us in the slightest.

Also it's the first time I've seen it confirmed that Espanyol is the parent club. Again we'll have to wait and see but on the face of it that doesn't sound great either.

If he's living there for a few months, that's fair enough, but if it's a full-on move, then his comments after taking us over about being in the Burnley community and living in the area were just insincere baloney.

[ClaretTony]

Really don’t think that will be the case, simply because players that succeed in the Premier League sell for the most money and English clubs also far out spend foreign clubs. It’ll all be geared around that.

Do expect he’ll spend some time in Barcelona to get things up and running. There will be a lot of work to do.

You really aren't concerned with this development in any way are you?

[123EasyasBFC]

I really think that’s article about becoming parent club, taking loan signings from Burnley and Alan Pace looking to buy Dundee and Kortrjik are coming from a guy purely guessing on what’s been said in the past

[ŽižkovClaret]

At the level he works at, outside of matchdays, it really doesn't matter if he's in Burnley, or Barcelona. He will spend a chunk of time there as it is a new acquisition. That's normal for any business.

It's not like Burnley are left rudderless. Haven't we got a new CEO figure recently, as well as Matt Williams doing much of the transfer business?

[NewClaret]

You really aren't concerned with this development in any way are you?

What makes you say that? I’ve said several times I don’t like multi club ownership.

[123EasyasBFC]

He was linked with Kortrijk a year ago.

I think the guy who wrote the article and seen Alan Pace linked to Kortrijk and ran with it again

[ŽižkovClaret]

I would imagine the thing about the parent club was mentioned only to reassure any Spanish readers that they weren't being considered on an equal footing with Dundee or the Belgian club...... I see no reason why we wouldn't be considered equal if not slightly ahead of Espanyol

[IanMcL]

For Pace, the purchase of Espanyol was an absolute priority, and the blue and white club will become the parent team of the group, with which it hopes to operate by investing in signings starting in the second year and when the income level is more consolidated. For now, Espanyol will be able to benefit from some top-level loan signings from Burnley, a club that does have a wide margin of financial fair play and is signing numerous players this summer with an investment that will exceed 100 million euros.

So Burnley loaning out on the cheap?
Just building more debt into Burnley?

[NewClaret]

So Burnley loaning out on the cheap?
Just building more debt into Burnley?

Quite the opposite I would think! PSR and all that.

[ŽižkovClaret]

So Burnley loaning out on the cheap?
Just building more debt into Burnley?

Tbh i'd rather we loan fringe players to La Liga on say 50% salary contribution vs Championship on 100%

I think the players will benefit, and i think it makes us a more attractive prospect for young development players

[123EasyasBFC]

So Burnley loaning out on the cheap?
Just building more debt into Burnley?

How have you read that and jumped to the conclusion that Burnley will be loaning players out on the cheap and building more debt into Burnley?

[NewClaret]

I think the guy who wrote the article and seen Alan Pace linked to Kortrijk and ran with it again

I wondered that. That is either a very well informed piece or a case of putting several pieces of the jigsaw together quite badly.

[123EasyasBFC]

I wondered that. That is either a very well informed piece or a case of putting several pieces of the jigsaw together quite badly.

Alan pace to stay in Barcelona as it says ‘for now’ well I’d expect him to when it’s a new club.

They might well loan players from Burnley but it was like when Kompany joined us. We got linked with every young player at Man City.

Reporting we want to buy Dundee and kortrijk to me just feels like they have put information from previous reports together

[daveisaclaret]

All downhill from here. Every single bad thing that happens in football is welcomed by fans and this is no different.

On a seperate note I really don't think we have any players we want to loan out who can get near a La Liga team. Maybe I'll be proven wrong.

[JohnMcGreal]

Tbh i'd rather we loan fringe players to La Liga on say 50% salary contribution vs Championship on 100%

I think the players will benefit, and i think it makes us a more attractive prospect for young development players

Why would a club like Espanyol be interested in taking our fringe players on loan?

[Big Vinny K]

At the level he works at, outside of matchdays, it really doesn't matter if he's in Burnley, or Barcelona. He will spend a chunk of time there as it is a new acquisition. That's normal for any business.

It's not like Burnley are left rudderless. Haven't we got a new CEO figure recently, as well as Matt Williams doing much of the transfer business?

Agree with that
I don’t really care whether AP lives in Burnley, Barcelona or Timbuktu - it should have no impact on how the club is managed in this day of age where you work from.

But I do care that there will now inevitably be conflicts of interest going forward. Espanyol are not Dundee - it’s impossible to see how the clubs can be ran completely independent of each other when there are common owners who will now have to make financial decisions for the group.

[123EasyasBFC]

All downhill from here. Every single bad thing that happens in football is welcomed by fans and this is no different.

On a seperate note I really don't think we have any players we want to loan out who can get near a La Liga team. Maybe I'll be proven wrong.

I think Ekdal would be comfortably good enough to play bottom half La liga team

[RVclaret]

It’s certainly an interesting development. Investors into Velocity will be more attracted to the idea of a portfolio of clubs, than just Burnley. I do wonder if, when trying to find new investors, they’ve not found it very easy, and this move should / could make it more attractive. Of course, more investment into Velocity can trickle into Burnley, which would be a net benefit.

I’m not worried about Pace spreading between the two, it’s more than viable, he’s appointed an experienced CEO here, I’d imagine, for this very reason. The whole infrastructure at our club has been developed enough to allow him to be across both. As for players & loans, it will be interesting to see who would suit a move there, La Liga is a top level. Wouldn’t surprise me to see good quality players like Beyer and Tresor, who perhaps need to find form and fitness, make the move.

[JohnMcGreal]

Not sure on the accuracy of this report around Espanyol being the parent club given we are far bigger than them in financial terms.

But whether it’s true or not I’m still massively against the multi club ownership model irrespective of whether we are the parent club or the feeder club. If Espanyol are the parent club then this is even worse for Burnley but it’s not good whichever way round the relationship is.

The way football has gone recently and the direction it’s now going is grim to say the least.

Yep, it's going down the pan. Football clubs are increasingly faced with two choices, either end up in the hands of a dubious foreign state, or in the hands of (mainly American) financial speculators whose only goal is to make more money for themselves, whilst loading all the risk onto the club.

BFC is just another vehicle used by these people to make more money. We could just as easily have been a water company or a restaurant chain, but ALK obviously like the opportunities here, and in Catalonia, apparently.

[Chester Perry]

Loan signings going to Espanol, we're expected to spend over 100m euros.

https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/espany ... -119705192

I have archived a translated version of this for future reference

Espanyol's new owner is now considering buying Belgian side KV Kortrijk
The investment group also has an agreement with Scottish Dundee and aspires to go further in the future
https://archive.ph/8V64Z

I was thinking about this yesterday and the more I look at it the more this looks like a merger - so little upfront capital required, the value of our club and the debts it is owed by and carries for the group making it possible.

[123EasyasBFC]

I have archived a translated version of this for future reference

Espanyol's new owner is now considering buying Belgian side KV Kortrijk
The investment group also has an agreement with Scottish Dundee and aspires to go further in the future
https://archive.ph/8V64Z

I was thinking about this yesterday and the more I look at it the more this looks like a merger - so little upfront capital required, the value of our club and the debts it is owed by and carries for the group making it possible.

I still feel like the report of kortrijk is just reporters looking at old links, could be completely wrong and Vincent Tan might be looking to sell now they have been relegated

[quoonbeatz]

**** this ****.

[Chester Perry]

I still feel like the report of kortrijk is just reporters looking at old links, could be completely wrong and Vincent Tan might be looking to sell now they have been relegated

People are forgetting that the deal was so close last summer that Velocity were actually involved in the signing of players for the club - the fall out from the failure to complete the takeover has ultimately contributed to their relegation

[dsr]

It’s certainly an interesting development. Investors into Velocity will be more attracted to the idea of a portfolio of clubs, than just Burnley. I do wonder if, when trying to find new investors, they’ve not found it very easy, and this move should / could make it more attractive. Of course, more investment into Velocity can trickle into Burnley, which would be a net benefit.

I’m not worried about Pace spreading between the two, it’s more than viable, he’s appointed an experienced CEO here, I’d imagine, for this very reason. The whole infrastructure at our club has been developed enough to allow him to be across both. As for players & loans, it will be interesting to see who would suit a move there, La Liga is a top level. Wouldn’t surprise me to see good quality players like Beyer and Tresor, who perhaps need to find form and fitness, make the move.

Ni investment from Velocity Capital has ever trickled into Burnley, and I doubt there is any intention that it should. It's quite the reverse - the investment has gone up the chain, Velocity have taken money out of Burnley FC and there is every likelihood they will continue to do so.

Why did Burnley FC have topay £20m interest last year? Because Velocity have taken out £100m on an interest free loan. They are takers, not givers.

[Chester Perry]

It’s certainly an interesting development. Investors into Velocity will be more attracted to the idea of a portfolio of clubs, than just Burnley. I do wonder if, when trying to find new investors, they’ve not found it very easy, and this move should / could make it more attractive. Of course, more investment into Velocity can trickle into Burnley, which would be a net benefit.

I’m not worried about Pace spreading between the two, it’s more than viable, he’s appointed an experienced CEO here, I’d imagine, for this very reason. The whole infrastructure at our club has been developed enough to allow him to be across both. As for players & loans, it will be interesting to see who would suit a move there, La Liga is a top level. Wouldn’t surprise me to see good quality players like Beyer and Tresor, who perhaps need to find form and fitness, make the move.

Going to be interesting to see if JJ Watt and to a lesser extent Dude Perfect extol the history of Espanyol now to their audiences

[123EasyasBFC]

Going to be interesting to see if JJ Watt and to a lesser extent Dude Perfect extol the history of Espanyol now to their audiences

I noticed JJ Watt now following Espaynol on X

[RVclaret]

Ni investment from Velocity Capital has ever trickled into Burnley, and I doubt there is any intention that it should. It's quite the reverse - the investment has gone up the chain, Velocity have taken money out of Burnley FC and there is every likelihood they will continue to do so.

Why did Burnley FC have topay £20m interest last year? Because Velocity have taken out £100m on an interest free loan. They are takers, not givers.

Private equity (I know ALK said they aren’t, but the structure is similar) typically takes money from investors, puts it to work over time, and then yes, returns money to those investors, with the aim of a positive cash on cash return for them, while taking a clip themselves.

There may have just not been enough significant investment to send through, which speaks to my first point. Let’s say a new investor gives Velocity £200m tomorrow, what exactly do you think Velocity will do? We know they would like to expand their portfolio, so that’s possible, but they also need to improve and grow their current portfolio (us), so hence some funds could trickle our way.

Going to be interesting to see if JJ Watt and to a lesser extent Dude Perfect extol the history of Espanyol now to their audiences

Yeah, I did wonder about this, to some degree. Perhaps the investor gets to ‘choose’ the portfolio, or select within it? Would love to know.

[Rileybobs]

Some people don't seem to get it. Alan Pace is buying Espanyol to benefit Alan Pace, not Burnley.

[jedi_master]

Maybe Brownhill is going to Espanyol.

[RVclaret]

Some people don't seem to get it. Alan Pace is buying Espanyol to benefit Alan Pace, not Burnley.

It can be both. Which perhaps you don’t get.

[ŽižkovClaret]

I noticed JJ Watt now following Espaynol on X

Any change to his Top 8 friends on MySpace?

[quoonbeatz]

Has there ever been a multi club network that hasn’t been set up to benefit one club over the others?

Seems a bit odd that people are pretty dismissive of the claim that Espanyol wouldn’t be regarded as the parent club here. Bigger stadium also used for concerts, higher average attendance, rarely out of the top flight and could easily be a top half fixture versus us who will always be punching above our weight by avoiding relegation from the top flight every year and whose finances make it virtually impossible to ever compete in the PL.

[aggi]

Private equity (I know ALK said they aren’t, but the structure is similar) typically takes money from investors, puts it to work over time, and then yes, returns money to those investors, with the aim of a positive cash on cash return for them, while taking a clip themselves.

There may have just not been enough significant investment to send through, which speaks to my first point. Let’s say a new investor gives Velocity £200m tomorrow, what exactly do you think Velocity will do? We know they would like to expand their portfolio, so that’s possible, but they also need to improve and grow their current portfolio (us), so hence some funds could trickle our way.


Yeah, I did wonder about this, to some degree. Perhaps the investor gets to ‘choose’ the portfolio, or select within it? Would love to know.

It needs to be more than a trickle to switch ALK from "taking" to "giving". It would need well upwards of £100m just to get it back to a neutral position.

[Rileybobs]

It can be both. Which perhaps you don’t get.

If you want to believe that Pace is buying Espanyol for the benefit of Burnley then crack on fella.

[RVclaret]

It needs to be more than a trickle to switch ALK from "taking" to "giving". It would need well upwards of £100m just to get it back to a neutral position.

Well, hypothetically, a £20m ‘return’ could be a new Cricket Field stand. Adds more value to the stadium, and club, plus makes it more attractive for investors. It’s possible the £100m could be ‘returned’ upon a sale, e.g. in 2035 the club does a Brighton and is sold on for £400m, the £100m owed could remain with the club from the overall profit, no?