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Tony Bloom, the influential owner of Brighton & Hove Albion, is continuing his rapid expansion into global football ownership, with fresh reports indicating he is actively scouting opportunities in the French Ligue 1. This latest development follows closely on the heels of Bloom’s £10 million investment for a 29% stake in Scottish side Heart of Midlothian, which was overwhelmingly approved by supporters group Foundation of Hearts with a landslide 98.5% vote.
The Hearts acquisition marked Bloom’s second major personal football move in recent months, after he secured a 19.1% stake in Australian A-League outfit Melbourne Victory back in March. Now, sources close to the matter suggest Bloom has turned his attention to France, where the financial instability caused by the collapse of the league’s broadcast deal with DAZN has opened the door for strategic investors.
Ligue 1’s domestic rights will shift next season to a new, club-operated direct-to-consumer streaming service, creating a climate of uncertainty and opportunity. Several French clubs are now exploring investment options, including OGC Nice, which is being shopped by current owners INEOS through Lazard, and Bordeaux and Toulouse, both of which held exploratory talks with Fenway Sports Group last year.
While Bloom’s French ambitions are part of his personal portfolio and not linked to Brighton, they mirror a broader trend of multi-club ownership models. Brighton already share this structure through Bloom’s co-ownership of Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise. Despite UEFA restrictions, the two clubs were allowed to compete in the Europa League concurrently after it was ruled that Bloom did not exercise decisive control over both.
Related Developments in the Sports Business Landscape:
EFL Drama Set for Netflix Spotlight:
Streaming giant Netflix is reportedly in talks to produce a documentary series centered on the English Football League’s promotion play-offs next season. Inspired by the success of *Sunderland ‘Til I Die*, Netflix could join other bidders in bringing the EFL’s high-stakes drama to screens. The EFL has already selected Workerbee as the production company tasked with brokering the broadcasting deal.
Hundred Investment Standoff:
Reliance Industries, the Ambani-owned conglomerate, is delaying the ECB’s plan to finalize the £520 million sale of The Hundred cricket franchises. Despite agreeing to buy a 49% stake in the Oval Invincibles for £61.5 million, Reliance has yet to sign the participation agreement. Other investors are ready to proceed, potentially allowing the ECB to move ahead with those deals first.
Premier Sports Eyes Rugby Domination:
Premier Sports is preparing to scale up its rugby union content, targeting rights for the English second-tier “Champ Rugby” and France’s ProD2 league. This strategic move aims to bolster their rugby portfolio, which already includes the Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, and the United Rugby Championship.
National League Gold Rush Inspired by Wrexham:
Lower-tier English football is also attracting increased interest from American investors looking to replicate the Wrexham success story. With EFL club valuations climbing, National League sides—many worth under £1 million—are becoming prime acquisition targets. A recent example includes David Gandler’s £19 million purchase of Leyton Orient and Southend United’s £1 sale to an Australian group now one win away from League Two promotion.
Tony Bloom’s exploration in France fits squarely into this wider trend of savvy football investment and strategic club acquisitions, as stakeholders seek value in both elite and emerging markets across global football.
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