Velocity Sports Partners Completes Acquisition of Majority Stake in RCD Espanyol de Barcelona.

Roger Hampel

Image: Espanol Barcelona

Velocity Sports Partners (VSP), the sports investment arm of ALK Capital, has completed the acquisition of a majority shareholding in RCD Espanyol de Barcelona, marking the group’s first investment in Spanish football. The deal expands VSP’s multi-club ownership model, which already includes Premier League club Burnley FC.

Transaction Overview Velocity Sports Partners RCD Espanyol

The acquisition follows an extensive due diligence process covering Espanyol’s financial, institutional, and sporting structures. According to VSP, the evaluation underscored the club’s strong heritage, loyal fanbase, and community ties — factors that align with the company’s philosophy of responsible, long-term stewardship.

VSP, led by Alan Pace, Managing Partner of ALK Capital and Chairman of Burnley FC, emphasized that the acquisition is not intended to alter Espanyol’s local identity or independence.

Alan Pace stated that both Burnley and Espanyol will continue to operate autonomously, with their own leadership and decision-making structures.

“Football has always belonged to its people,” said Pace. “Our role is not to replace legacy, but to build upon it, with care, clarity, and purpose. Burnley will remain Burnley. Espanyol will remain Espanyol.”

Strategic Approach and Multi-Club Model

The acquisition introduces ALK Capital’s multi-club ownership model to Spanish football, designed to foster collaboration between clubs while preserving their local identities. VSP’s approach focuses on sustainable investment in infrastructure, academy development, and long-term growth, rather than short-term financial returns.

Pace described the model as one that strengthens, rather than dilutes, club individuality:

“This is not about ownership; it’s about stewardship. Collaboration, when done with respect, can strengthen local identity rather than threaten it.”

At Espanyol, the group intends to invest in world-class training and academy facilities, promote operational transparency, and deepen fan engagement through consistent community initiatives.

Leadership and Continuity

VSP’s acquisition also includes plans to maintain close cooperation with Rastar Group and its chairman Chen Yansheng, who had been Espanyol’s majority owner since 2016. Pace publicly expressed his appreciation to Chen and Rastar for their prior stewardship, highlighting the foundation they established for the club’s next phase.

“We are here to do the work—honestly, carefully, and openly,” Pace added. “To respect the past, support the present, and shape a future worthy of both clubs’ proud traditions.”

Industry Context

The move reflects the growing trend of multi-club ownership across global football, where investment groups seek to build synergies between teams operating in different markets. The acquisition of Espanyol gives ALK Capital a foothold in LaLiga, expanding its European network and providing new avenues for player development and international partnerships.

For Espanyol, the deal represents an opportunity to stabilize operations following recent financial challenges and to benefit from strategic investment and expertise already applied at Burnley FC.