Atletico Madrid announced the acquisition of a 50 percent stake in Atletico FC on Friday, expanding the club’s global franchise model into South America following the Ecuadorian side’s promotion to the top-flight Serie A.
The deal integrates the Guayaquil-based club directly into the Spanish side’s international structure, which already includes Atletico San Luis in Mexico and Atletico Ottawa in Canada, according to OkDiario.
“El Atlético Fútbol Club se une a la familia rojiblanca. Nuestro club hace efectiva la adquisición del 50% del equipo ecuatoriano,” the Spanish club said on social media, welcoming the side to its organizational network.
The Ecuadorian club secured promotion to Serie A in October after winning the Serie B title in its first season in the division under head coach Carlos Santamarina, an El Universo report noted. Santamarina previously worked within Atletico Madrid’s youth academy system.
The transaction formalizes a deeper level of shared ownership with the Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil, a prominent local non-profit organization that has partnered with the Spanish club since 2023. The two entities will jointly manage the club moving forward.
A six-member board of directors will govern Atletico FC, consisting of three representatives appointed by Atletico Madrid and three designated by the Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil, as detailed by 365Scores. The board is scheduled to convene to select a president nominated by the Spanish club and appoint a general manager.
El Atlético Fútbol Club se une a la familia rojiblanca. Nuestro club hace efectiva la adquisición del 50% del equipo ecuatoriano, que logró el ascenso a la Serie A en octubre de la mano del técnico de la Academia Carlos Santamarina. ¡Bienvenidos, @AtleticoFCec! ❤️🤍 ➡️… pic.twitter.com/N9vSBZzuJZ
Neither club disclosed the specific financial terms of the acquisition, nor did reports clarify the exact share breakdown retained by the Junta de Beneficencia alongside Atletico Madrid’s newly acquired 50 percent stake.
The ownership stake builds upon a grassroots training initiative launched in 2023, which has established 30 training locations across 10 Ecuadorian cities, including Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta, Machala, Buena Fe, Milagro, Montecristi, Salinas, Ambato, and Quinindé. MARCA said that more than 15,000 young players currently participate in the development program.
The project received high-level diplomatic visibility on November 14, 2024, when King Felipe VI of Spain, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, and Atletico Madrid President Enrique Cerezo attended the inauguration of the training center in Cuenca.
Atletico FC will prepare for its debut season in Ecuador’s top tier for 2027 under the newly formalized joint administration. The club features branding closely modeled after its Spanish parent organization, including traditional red-and-white striped shirts and a comparable crest.
