OL Groupe, the parent company of French football clubs Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, is looking to divest its interest in OL Reign, the American professional women’s soccer team.
The decision to divest comes after the company announced a strategic shift in its focus to concentrate on its core business of football in France. OL Groupe has been involved with OL Reign since its inception in 2013, when it became the first professional women’s soccer team in the United States.
The team has seen success since its formation, winning the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Shield in 2014 and the NWSL Championship in 2019. The team has also been successful off the field, with strong attendance figures and a growing fanbase.
OL Groupe’s decision to divest its interest in OL Reign is part of a larger strategy to focus on its core business of football in France. The company is looking to invest more resources into its French clubs, which have seen success in recent years, including winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2018.
The divestment of OL Reign is expected to be completed in the near future, with the team’s ownership being transferred to a new entity. It is unclear who this new entity will be, but it is likely that the team will remain in the NWSL.
The divestment of OL Reign is a sign of OL Groupe’s commitment to focusing on its core business of football in France. While the team has seen success both on and off the field, the company is looking to invest more resources into its French clubs. This decision is likely to benefit both OL Groupe and OL Reign, as the former will be able to focus more on its core business and the latter will be able to continue to build on its success.
