Private investment firm, 777 Partners, is changing the landscape of world football with its ambitious multiclub ownership strategy. The Miami-based company has completed takeovers of Genoa in Italy, Standard Liège in Belgium, Red Star in France, Melbourne Victory in Australia, and recently acquired a 64.7% majority stake in Hertha Berlin. Despite reports of 777 Partners considering investments in Newcastle, Chelsea, and Everton, the company maintains its focus on providing its clubs with the tools to be the best.
The multiclub ownership model has attracted interest from other investment firms and clubs seeking to establish similar networks. Chelsea is understood to be investing in Strasbourg and another club in Portugal, while Newcastle has held talks with Dijon and several clubs in Portugal. Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners is also seeking to establish multiclub networks.
With 777 Partners’ growing portfolio and Don Dransfield, former Chief Strategy Officer for City Football Group, now leading the network, Farhad Moshiri of Everton may be tempted by an offer to join. Joshua Wander, co-founder of 777 Partners, believes the multiclub strategy will help prevent long periods of distress for individual clubs.
Last year, Wander’s 2003 arrest for possession of 31 grams of cocaine was brought to light, but 777 Partners dismissed it as "ancient history", stating that Wander had put the incident behind him and gone on to become the co-founder of one of the most successful companies in the business.