Klopp's French Revolution: Red Bull aim to dethrone PSG

Tom Weber

Updated: 9 Oct 2024 18:17 BST
3 min read

Red Bull and the Arnault family, one of the wealthiest in the world, are set to acquire Paris FC, according to French media.

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The Red Bull club network is growing. According to L'Equipe, the energy drink company is set to purchase a 15 per cent stake in Ligue 2 club Paris FC, while the Arnault family, the owners of luxury goods brand LVMH, will acquire 55 per cent.

Current owner Pierre Ferracci will retain 30 per cent of the club until 2027. This sale signals a potential revolution in French football. With the sporting expertise of Red Bull and the funding of a family thought to be worth €200 billion, Paris' 'second club' is aiming to surge to the top of the domestic game.

The Arnault family and Red Bull are already associates in Formula 1 and will now expand their relationship to football. This bombshell news comes after the equally shocking revelation that Red Bull has managed to land Jurgen Klopp as their Global Head of Soccer starting from January 1, 2025.

Paris FC to dethrone PSG?

Paris FC's newfound ambition has already been observable with some of their recent transfer activity. In the summer, they surprisingly announced the signing of former France youth international Maxime Lopez, whom they convinced to swap Serie A for Ligue 2.

PFC also managed to sign in-demand striker Jean-Philippe Krasso from Champions League side Red Star Belgrade with encouraging results so far. After eight games, they sit top of Ligue 2.

While the immediate goal will, of course, be attaining promotion, the long-term aim is to establish the club among France's elite, potentially dethroning city rivals PSG.

With the funding of Red Bull and the Arnault family, "the project of a second major club in Paris is finally concrete," as L'Equipe writes. The idea is not to immediately turn Paris FC into the 'new PSG' but rather to act more "discreetly," with the club set to "be provided with resources, at least between €100m-€200m euros over several years" in a bid to get a strong foothold in Ligue 1 first and foremost.

This sale could change French football forever.