FC Annecy is preparing to enter a new era. The V Sports fund, already owner of Aston Villa, will acquire 30% of the capital of the Haute-Savoie club. A new example of multiple ownership in French football, including in Ligue 2.
This is a major change looming for FC Annecy. The Ligue 2 club will soon welcome into its capital a major player in European football: the V Sports fund. This structure, already owner of Aston Villa (currently 3rd in the Premier League), is preparing to take 30% of the French club’s shares. The signing of the agreement is expected within a few weeks according to the latest information from the Team.
Annecy towards multi-ownership, with a model focused on training
The operation began discreetly in the summer of 2025. The project is clear: rely on Annecy to train young talents and create bridges with Aston Villa. In September, a first link was made with the loan of Triston Rowe, English U20 international defender. Other movements are being considered, such as the arrival of Dutch striker Zépiqueno Redmond (19 years old).
The project is not aimed at a simple financial investment. It is part of a global strategy, focused on the development of young players. Aston Villa’s director of football, Roberto Olabe, has already traveled to Haute-Savoie to collaborate with the local sports unit. Aimé Jacquet, ASSE legend, is involved in the project, with a supervisory role for training.
Ligue 1 – Ligue 2: France’s playground for timeshares
With this arrival of V Sports, Annecy joins the long list of French clubs integrated into timeshare projects. Strasbourg (via BlueCo, owner of Chelsea), Lorient (with Bournemouth), OL (Botafogo), Paris FC (linked to Red Bull via Leipzig), or even Nice (under the Ineos banner like Manchester United) are the most notable examples. This phenomenon, once marginal, is becoming a norm in the French football landscape. And Ligue 2 is no longer immune.
The current owner of Annecy, Philippe Rey-Gorrez, is not giving up. He remains the main financier of the club and will continue to manage the project, in tandem with president Sébastien Faraglia.
With V Sports, Annecy wants to gain ambition and visibility. But this strategic shift also raises questions.
