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Sunderland Confirm Agreement Reached With Kyril Louis-Dreyfus for Takeover

Sunderland are set for new ownership after two-and-a-half years under chairman Stewart Donald. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters
Sunderland are set for new ownership after two-and-a-half years under chairman Stewart Donald. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters
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Sunderland Confirm Agreement Reached With Kyril Louis-Dreyfus for Takeover

Sunderland are set for new ownership after two-and-a-half years under chairman Stewart Donald. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters
Sunderland are set for new ownership after two-and-a-half years under chairman Stewart Donald. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters

Sunderland have announced that an agreement has been reached with a prospective new owner, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, the son of the former Marseille owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus, and is set to acquire Stewart Donald’s controlling interest in the club.

Donald accepted an offer from the 22-year-old Frenchman in November but the deal has taken six weeks to complete and is still pending approval from the EFL. If that is granted, Louis-Dreyfus will become chairman and majority shareholder of the League One club.

“First, I would like to thank Stewart Donald for his integrity and reasonableness over the last three months, which has led to me having the opportunity to take a controlling stake in Sunderland AFC,” Louis-Dreyfus said. “We respectfully await the EFL’s approval for this transaction.

“In acquiring Sunderland, I understand the responsibility that’s placed upon me as the custodian of the club’s future. We want to create a team that is entertaining to watch … reconnecting the team with its fanbase, whose support will be so vital to our success.

“In the midst of a global pandemic, we should all be aware of the difficult situation the club is currently in and the challenges we face in the months to come. However, if we all play our parts, I firmly believe we can restore Sunderland to the top tier of English football and I can’t wait to get started.”

Donald, who led a consortium to buy out Ellis Short in April 2018, said: “It’s been no secret that I have been looking for some time to find the right person to take Sunderland forward. However, even though it is a matter of public record that some of those bidders offered me more money, I felt that they offered less to the club and to the community.

“From the early meetings with Kyril, his family and advisers, I have been greatly impressed with their knowledge and understanding.”

The club said that a final decision from the EFL is not due until mid-January and they will make no further comment until then. Sunderland are currently 11th in League One and recently appointed Lee Johnson as their manager, replacing Phil Parkinson.

“Many will be aware of my family connections to the industry and, in acquiring Sunderland AFC, I understand the responsibility that’s placed upon me as the custodian of the club’s future,” Louis-Dreyfuss added.

His family founded the Swiss-based Louis-Dreyfus group in the 19th century and owned Marseille for 10 years before selling it in 2016.

Louis-Dreyfus, along with his twin brother, is one of three heirs to his father’s fortune after his death in 2009 and is estimated to have a trust fund worth more than £2bn. His mother remains a minority shareholder in Marseille.

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Barcola Returns to PSG Squad Ahead of Champions League Clash with Liverpool

Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #33 Warren Zaire Emery (L) and Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #29 Bradley Barcola take part in a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on the western outskirts of Paris on April 7, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match against Liverpool F.C. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #33 Warren Zaire Emery (L) and Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #29 Bradley Barcola take part in a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on the western outskirts of Paris on April 7, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match against Liverpool F.C. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
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Barcola Returns to PSG Squad Ahead of Champions League Clash with Liverpool

Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #33 Warren Zaire Emery (L) and Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #29 Bradley Barcola take part in a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on the western outskirts of Paris on April 7, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match against Liverpool F.C. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #33 Warren Zaire Emery (L) and Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #29 Bradley Barcola take part in a training session at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy, on the western outskirts of Paris on April 7, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match against Liverpool F.C. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Paris St Germain forward Bradley Barcola has been named in the squad for their Champions League quarter-final second leg at Liverpool, the Ligue 1 club ⁠said on Monday.

The France international had been sidelined for a month after suffering a ⁠severe ankle ligament sprain during the Champions League last-16 second leg at Chelsea.

Barcola missed PSG's last three matches across all competitions, as well as France's ⁠friendlies ⁠in the US against Brazil and Colombia.

PSG, the European Cup holders, take a 2-0 lead over Liverpool into Tuesday's game.

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Rashford with Point to Prove as Barca Target Atletico Comeback

Barcelona's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Spanish La Liga match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP)
Barcelona's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Spanish La Liga match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP)
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Rashford with Point to Prove as Barca Target Atletico Comeback

Barcelona's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Spanish La Liga match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP)
Barcelona's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Spanish La Liga match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP)

Marcus Rashford had his chance against Atletico Madrid, but failed to take it -- or any of the next five that came along on a frustrating European night.

On Tuesday the England international has another opportunity to try and inspire Barcelona to a Champions League comeback in the Spanish capital.

Rashford fired blanks as Barca suffered a 2-0 quarter-final first leg defeat, but the England international was also his team's brightest spark against the Rojiblancos, even though the killer finish eluded him.

The 28-year-old, on loan from Manchester United, has a point to prove in the second leg, particularly with his future at the club on the line -- as well as a potential World Cup spot in Thomas Tuchel's England squad.

Barcelona have not yet made a decision on whether to trigger the 30 million euro ($35 million) clause in Rashford's loan deal to make his switch to Camp Nou permanent.

With Raphinha out injured, Rashford has been the natural choice on Barca's left flank.

Rashford burst beyond Atletico full-back Nahuel Molina on numerous occasions at Camp Nou but could not capitalize.

"This team is always going to create chances, there's so much quality in possession... today the goal didn't go in, but we can't shy away from the responsibility to take these chances," Rashford told CBS.

"On another day, on another night, they go in."

On Saturday, Flick began with Rashford on the bench for Barcelona's 4-1 thrashing of Espanyol in La Liga, likely to save the forward's energy for the visit to Atletico's Metropolitano stadium.

Rashford came on after 65 minutes and netted the fourth in the last minute with a cushioned volley, which Flick hopes will raise his confidence levels.

"I'm happy Marcus scored a goal today, it was very important for us," said Flick.

Rashford also scored against Atletico at the Metropolitano on April 4 in La Liga, with the second leg the third in a trilogy of clashes between the sides in under a fortnight.

The Englishman has six goals in 26 La Liga appearances, with his finishing an area that could be improved.

In the Champions League, Rashford has netted five times in 10 games and, if the pattern of the first leg is repeated, could be Barca's main attacking threat again.

Talented teenager Lamine Yamal was double and triple marked, in the first leg, creating more room for Rashford to fly into.

- 'Unbelievable' mindset -

Rashford believes Barca can mount a comeback to reach the semi-finals for a second season running.

"The mindset and the intent that we had to try to get back into the game is unbelievable, and we're going to have to use this, and we need all of this in the next game in order to come back," said Rashford.

"We know what we are capable of when we're playing at our highest level and we can take the game away from anybody. We have to look to do this in the next game."

Barca left the first leg furious at not being given a penalty when Atletico defender Marc Pubill touched the ball with his hand at a goal kick.

"It's a penalty, it's happened before and it's always given as a penalty," Rashford added. "It's common sense that it's a penalty."

One area of the game where Rashford has not always satisfied Flick this season has been in his work-rate off the ball, not close to Raphinha's intense pressing, which is a key to how the coach likes to play.

"(Pressing) is also a part of our game which is very important, not just with the ball (where) everyone knows he's fantastic," said Flick on the eve of the first leg.

"We need him... to help his team-mate on the flank."

In response, Rashford produced one of his best displays in that regard, and also tracked back well against Espanyol, showing he is heeding his coach's instructions.

The forward's 30-million-euro fee would be straightforward for some clubs given Rashford's numbers this season.

The attacker has 12 goals and 13 assists in 42 appearances, many as a substitute, but at cash-strapped Barca any such deal would represent a significant chunk of the summer budget.

Signing Rashford might mean not being able to move for a much-needed defensive reinforcement.

Rashford's job against Atletico is to make the question a no-brainer, even on Barca's budget.

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Ghanaian Soccer Player Dominic Frimpong Killed in Attack on Berekum Chelsea Team Bus

FILE PHOTO: A street in Tema, Ghana, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A street in Tema, Ghana, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo
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Ghanaian Soccer Player Dominic Frimpong Killed in Attack on Berekum Chelsea Team Bus

FILE PHOTO: A street in Tema, Ghana, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A street in Tema, Ghana, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo

Berekum Chelsea winger Dominic Frimpong has been killed in an armed robbery on his side’s team bus as they returned from a Ghana Premier League fixture at Samartex on Sunday, the Ghana Football Association said.

The robbers fired at ⁠the bus as ⁠it tried to reverse, striking Frimpong, 20, in the head. He later died in hospital and is the ⁠only reported casualty from the incident.

"The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has received with profound shock and deep sorrow the tragic news of the passing of Dominic Frimpong of Berekum Chelsea Football Club," it said.

"The incident ⁠has ⁠sent shockwaves across the entire football fraternity. The GFA extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, his teammates, technical staff, management, and all at Berekum Chelsea during this extremely difficult time."