City Football Group and Red Bull Compete for Dutch Club Vitesse Arnhem
Reports suggest that City Football Group (CFG) and Red Bull GmbH are in a competitive race to acquire Vitesse Arnhem, a struggling Dutch Eerste Divisie team. CFG’s interest comes as Manchester City itself deals with an ongoing situation concerning the 115 charges filed by the Premier League in February 2023. Despite the charges, City maintains confidence, insisting they have acted properly, pointing to what they describe as a “body of irrefutable evidence.”
CFG’s ambitious plans for expanding their network signal that their business operations remain steady, a sentiment emphasized by Manchester City’s parent company’s active involvement in global football ventures. With proven success in the multi-club model, including Girona’s entry into the UEFA Champions League and New York City FC’s strong showing in Major League Soccer, CFG seems ready to bring their expertise into Dutch football.
According to De Gelderlander, both CFG and Red Bull GmbH are eyeing Vitesse Arnhem, though details regarding negotiations or financial arrangements remain scarce.
Currently, CFG holds complete stakes in Manchester City, Melbourne City (A-League), and ESTAC Troyes (Ligue 1). They also control over 90 percent of Lommel SK (Belgium), Esporte Clube Bahia (Brazil), and Palermo FC (Italy), and have a significant stake in Girona. CFG made some adjustments to its Girona involvement in light of UEFA Champions League qualifications, appointing new board members from a UK-based legal firm.
With CFG and Red Bull known for their expertise in managing multi-club portfolios, the potential acquisition of Vitesse Arnhem could add another dimension to CFG’s European influence.
