Tech entrepreneur Victoire Cogevina Reynal has unveiled a novel $100 million investment fund, Mercury 13, with a specific focus on acquiring women’s football clubs across Europe and South America.
The newly formed Mercury 13 – named after a group of female pilots who weren’t allowed to join NASA’s astronaut programme – said it is already nearing several potential deals in Europe on the way to creating a women’s multi-club ownership group.
Mercury 13 is already making strides in its mission, with several potential acquisitions in the pipeline across Europe. Cogevina Reynal, a prominent figure in the field, is reportedly in the final stages of securing a deal in England, with additional agreements anticipated in Spain and Italy. Overcoming the existing challenges of purchasing women’s football teams is a key objective, especially considering their integration within men’s clubs and the limited instances of profitable women’s teams.
In the United States, the landscape for women’s club ownership is displaying promising growth. A notable example is the recent acquisition of the NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars, which was purchased by a consortium led by Laura Ricketts, owner of the Chicago Cubs, for approximately $35.5 million. Additionally, the forthcoming NWSL franchise in the San Francisco Bay area, slated to debut in 2024, reportedly commanded an investment of around $50 million.
Cogevina Reynal, a Greek-Argentine businesswoman hailing from the US, has long championed gender equality in football. Her involvement extends to co-founding the soccer app Gloria and establishing SR All Stars, the pioneering sports agency managed exclusively by women. She also holds a role as a Vice President at the German-based streaming platform OneFootball.
As evidenced by the FIFA World Cup’s impressive revenue of $570 million, the trajectory of women’s football in terms of financial growth is unmistakable. The English Women’s Super League (WSL) witnessed a substantial 60% surge in revenue, reaching $41 million during the 2020/21 season. However, club valuations have yet to catch up, presenting a unique opportunity for savvy investors to engage in women’s club ownership at this juncture.