On the banks of the Loire, Nantes may be approaching a change of ownership that reaches well beyond France. The club, relegated to Ligue 2 last season, is the subject of a proposed takeover by foreign investors in a project that could involve former Real Madrid full-back Marcelo and American rapper Snoop Dogg.
The Kita family, which has held control of Nantes since 2007, has signed an agreement to sell the club to Phenix Sports Invest. The group is represented by Paulo Tavares, a Portuguese-French intermediary, and the transaction is initially valued at about R$625 million. That figure could rise to R$780 million if Nantes secure a return to the French top flight in 2027.
Marcelo has been approached about becoming an ambassador for the seven-time French champions, with the proposed role centred on raising Nantes’ international profile. Snoop Dogg, already involved in football as an investor in Welsh club Swansea, is being considered as the public patron of a planned Nantes museum.
The deal still requires approval from the DNCG, French football’s financial watchdog. Around R$125 million has already been released as part of the process, while the prospective owners are preparing a broader rebuilding programme for a club trying to recover quickly from relegation.
That plan includes upgrades to La Beaujoire, Nantes’ long-standing stadium, and the Jonelière training complex. Investment is also envisaged in player recruitment, commercial partnerships, ticket income and merchandising, with the immediate objective of restoring the club to Ligue 1.
If the remaining regulatory and financial steps are cleared without further delay, the change of ownership could be completed between late October and early November.
