Le Mans FC’s investment train has added two more familiar faces from the game. Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Idrissa Gueye and retired Brazil international Lucas Leiva have joined the club’s shareholder group, bringing African development links and Brazilian recruitment experience to a project already backed by major sporting names.
The move
Gueye, 36, and Leiva, 39, have invested in the Sarthe club, although the size of their respective stakes has not been disclosed.
The pair join a shareholder base that has expanded rapidly since Brazilian investment fund OutField became Le Mans’ majority owner in February. Tennis great Novak Djokovic, Formula 1 figures Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen, and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had already entered the project in recent months.
- Idrissa Gueye: former PSG and Senegal midfielder, currently playing for Al-Diriyah in Saudi Arabia.
- Lucas Leiva: former Brazil midfielder, whose European career included Liverpool and Lazio.
- Novak Djokovic: tennis player and Le Mans shareholder.
- Thibaut Courtois: Belgium goalkeeper and Le Mans shareholder.
- Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen: motorsport figures involved in the shareholder group.
Le Mans had not been actively pursuing fresh investment in recent weeks, but remained open to additions judged useful to the club’s strategic development. Gueye and Leiva have been brought in with distinct roles beyond their financial involvement.
The French season around it
Gueye’s arrival offers Le Mans a potential route towards closer ties with Africa, especially Senegal, while OutField has already given the club a strong connection to Brazil.
The Senegal international made 135 appearances for the Lions of Teranga and has led the ForHope Campus since 2025. The academy is built around both football and education, with the stated aim of developing young players while supporting their schooling and personal growth.
Leiva is expected to contribute more directly to scouting and recruitment. Le Mans president Pedro Oliveira knows the former midfielder personally, and the Brazilian’s network and experience are set to be used in identifying players.
A 24-cap Brazil international, Leiva spent a decade at Liverpool after joining the English club in 2007. He moved to Lazio in 2017 and remained in Rome until 2022. He ended his professional career in 2023 following a heart problem.
For Le Mans, the new shareholders bring more than famous names: Gueye can help open a development bridge towards Senegal, while Leiva offers a Brazilian eye for talent at a club building its next chapter under OutField.
