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OL Groupe, owners of the French side Olympique Lyonnais, and Michele Kang have officially announced their partnership to create a multi-team women’s football organization, with Kang as the majority owner and CEO. Kang is already the owner of the Washington Spirit.
The majority stakes in both teams will be taken in order to create a new independent entity, although the Lyon side will continue to get services through the OL Groupe, including the use of the stadium, training grounds and academy.
“This deal represents a major step forward in the history of women’s professional football,” Kang said, via a press release from Washington Spirit. “It brings together the unparalleled tradition of the eight-time Champions League winning OL Féminin and the dynamism of the 2021 NWSL Champion Spirit to usher our sport into a new era. The complete alignment and support for this vision among the OL Groupe board and key principals including Jean-Michel Aulas, John Textor and myself is very powerful….
