U.S. firm Arctos buys stake in PSG, values team at over $4bn

The American private equity group Arctos Partners has acquired a minority equity stake in French champion Paris Saint-Germain, the Ligue 1 club announced on Thursday.

A source told ESPN that Arctos would buy a 12.5% ​​stake, valuing PSG at 4 billion euros ($4.32 billion), a record valuation for a football club.

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PSG said Arctos' investment would be used to develop the club's operations and support its real estate initiatives, including the stadium and training center.

Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), which bought PSG in 2011, will continue to have full control of the club and its decision-making.

Arctos will be a non-controlling owner and will have no influence on sporting matters on the pitch, PSG said in a statement.

“As a club and institution, we are entering the next exciting phase of PSG's growth and development, on and off the pitch, which is built on long-term ambitions and excellence in everything we do “, said PSG president Nasser Al-. said Khelaifi.

“Arctos is a fantastic partner to help us achieve our goals, bringing strategic expertise, ideas and innovation to our business, whilst providing investment and new relationships to support our football and sporting objectives.”

PSG have won nine Ligue 1 titles since QSI took over the club. They are four points clear at the top of Ligue 1 after 14 matches this season.

Last month, Formula One team Aston Martin announced it had accepted an investment from Arctos in exchange for a minority stake, valuing the racing group at around $1.24 billion.

ESPN's Julien Laurens contributed to this report