On the eve of its 145th anniversary, Bordeaux has been offered a route away from liquidation. The six-time French champion, now preparing for life in the regional game around Nouvelle-Aquitaine, has signed a sale agreement with British investment fund Park Bench.
The transaction was completed on Wednesday for the symbolic sum of one euro, with the incoming owners taking on the club’s debts. It is intended to preserve a side whose name still carries the weight of major nights in French football, despite its administrative relegation to Régional 1, the sixth tier.
Ownership change still requires approval
- Bordeaux and Park Bench finalised the purchase agreement on Wednesday, with the buyers accepting responsibility for the club’s liabilities.
- Park Bench representatives are due to meet the Regional Management Control Commission of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Football League in the coming days.
- The commission must approve both the proposed ownership transfer and Bordeaux’s 2026-27 budget before the club can take its place in Régional 1.
- A hearing before the commercial court is also planned to consider the new restructuring plan.
The deal does not yet settle every administrative step, but it removes the immediate prospect of the club being liquidated. For Bordeaux, that is a crucial reprieve after a steep fall through the French pyramid.
A historic name at a regional crossroads
Founded on 1 October 1881, Girondins de Bordeaux reaches its 145th birthday on Thursday. Its honours list remains among the strongest in France: six Ligue 1 titles, four Coupe de France trophies, three League Cups and three French Super Cups.
The last league championship arrived in 2008-09. Now, with regulatory clearance still required, the club’s immediate ambition is far more basic: securing a viable budget, completing the restructuring process and beginning the 2026-27 season in the regional division.
