David Beckham linked to potential FC Nantes takeover

FC Nantes could have a new owner as Waldemar Kita and his son explore selling the club, with David Beckham now linked to one possible takeover. The former England captain’s name has surfaced in discussions around the Ligue 2 side, although no deal has been confirmed.

Nantes were relegated recently and have made a poor start to the new season. The club has already dismissed its coach, adding pressure to the Kita family’s search for a way forward. Three takeover proposals are understood to exist, including one valued at €100 million.

Beckham’s involvement would bring an established football investor into the process. He is a co-owner of Inter Miami, the MLS club featuring Lionel Messi, and has interests across several business sectors. His lawyer met representatives of the Collectif nantais in Bordeaux in April 2024, indicating that contacts connected to a potential Nantes project have previously taken place.

The financial scale of the proposed sale is within Beckham’s reported means. His wealth was estimated at £1.185 billion in May, equivalent to about €1.36 billion, after investments in football, food and drinks, property and fashion. His business interests also include the Victoria Beckham fashion label, whose annual revenue passed £100 million last year.