Business · Companies · 7 hrs ago
Ryan Bertrand leads £87m investment proposal for AFC Wimbledon
Ryan Bertrand is central to a group seeking to invest in AFC Wimbledon, the south-west London football club.
The group, Sloane Street Capital, is offering £16m for a 34% stake and promises £71m more over five seasons.
Its proposal would let supporters keep ownership and voting control, with the group never holding a majority of voting power.
Wimbledon said its current ownership structure is not sustainable, after the club reported an operating loss and warned its finances would become tight.
Bertrand, a former Chelsea and England player who retired in 2024, would advise on football operations.
The offer now goes to a vote by members of the Dons Trust, with voting due to close on November 17.
The club says it will announce the result on November 18.
Former England defender Ryan Bertrand is leading a proposal for an £87m investment in AFC Wimbledon.
Sloane Street Capital would invest £16m for a 34% stake in the company that runs the club, with another £71m spread over five seasons.
The proposal would give the investor group oversight of football operations, while the Dons Trust would retain a permanent majority of voting rights and other protections.
The Dons Trust board recommends that members approve the proposal, but the decision will be made by members.
Voting closes on 17 November.
- Who
- Ryan Bertrand is leading the proposed investor group, Sloane Street Capital, which is solely funded by technology expert Omar Mir.
- What
- The group has proposed an £87m investment, including £16m for a 34% stake in AFCW PLC and £71m over five seasons.
- When
- The proposal was presented to Dons Trust members on Wednesday night. Voting closes on 17 November.
- Where
- AFC Wimbledon, a League One club based at Cherry Red Records Stadium in south-west London.
- Why
- The club is seeking new capital. The Daily Mail reported that the club had said its ownership structure was not sustainable.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Dons Trust members voted in favour of external investment, provided fan ownership and control were protected.
The board considered more than 20 potential investors, with Sloane Street Capital emerging as the strongest.
The Dons Trust board presented the proposals to members.
Voting by Dons Trust members on the proposal is due to close.
The Daily Mail reported that an announcement on the vote result was expected.
- Proposed investment
- £87m over five seasons
- Initial investment
- £16m on completion
- Proposed stake
- 34% of AFCW PLC
- Remaining investment
- £71m through the 2030-31 campaign
- Dons Trust voting stake
- 50.01% of AFC Wimbledon’s voting shares
- Member vote deadline
- 17 November
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What people are saying
We are not here to change what this club is. We are here to help it go further on and off the pitch, for the men's team, the women's team and the academy.
This is not "The Ryan Bertrand Show". It's about more ideas and empowering the club by partnering with the fans.
The deal brings at least £87m into AFC Wimbledon over five years, while the Trust keeps a permanent majority of the votes, control of the Plough Lane freehold and a veto over everything that makes us who we are.