The acquisition of Birmingham City Women FC has completed in a deal that brings several prominent female business leaders and global professional sporting icons in as investors.
Shelby Companies Ltd, an affiliate of Knighthead Capital Management, LLC, has combined with several independent investors to complete the purchase.
One prominent investor is Karen Carney OBE, a Birmingham City Women and England Lionesses legend. She represented her country on 144 occasions and, after retirement, became a regular football pundit and commentator on ITV and TNT Sports.
Another is former World Tennis Association number one Kim Clijsters. The winner of multiple Grand Slam titles, Clijsters most notably won the US Open as an unseeded player after stepping away from the game to become a mother. She is also the honorary president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame having been appointed in August 2022.
Jeremy Dale, chief executive of Birmingham City, said: “Birmingham City has a strong heritage in the women’s game, competing at the highest levels and winning the FA Cup in 2012. It has developed outstanding talents like Karen Carney, Kerys Harrop and Jess Carter, who have represented the women’s game with distinction.
“To now have Karen, along with Kim Clijsters and several other prominent women business leaders as investors, is a pivotal moment for the club.”
A statement from the Birmingham City Women’s Football Club Board added: “The ambition is to go beyond anything that Birmingham City Women has achieved before – domestically and internationally. And in the process, inspire a new generation of young girls, who will get the opportunity to perform in the planned women’s stadium within the Birmingham Sports Quarter.
“This transaction will be a catalyst to make it happen.”
Under the terms of the agreement, 97 per cent of Birmingham City Women FC has been acquired by Shelby Companies Ltd, with the remaining 3 per cent purchased by the independent investors.
