The deal represents the first significant foreign investment in a J-League soccer club and has been designed to create new global opportunities for the YF Marinos and Japanese soccer talent.
The deal will see CFG collaborate with YF Marinos, exposing them to a world-class soccer infrastructure and network not seen before in the J-League but that has achieved popular acclaim and real success with teams like Manchester City FC, recently crowned Premier League Champions for the second time in three seasons.
“The YF Marinos is an excellent soccer club with a rich history which has grown hand in hand with Nissan. Together we see opportunities that CFG’s global soccer infrastructure will bring to the club and the excitement it will bring to the fans,” said Carlos Ghosn, Nissan President and CEO. “This partnership will contribute to the growth of the club, the growth of our shared hometown, Yokohama, as well as Yokosuka and Japanese soccer.”
“We’re thrilled to be able to play a role in investing and building on the on-going success of YF Marinos,” said Ferran Soriano, CEO, City Football Group. “We are proud to offer a collaborative and integrated approach to the football, marketing, media and commercial development of all the clubs in the City family.
“At the same time, we are proud that each of our clubs is firmly rooted and invested in its local community as well as connected and engaged with its supporter base. We are very much looking forward to starting our collaboration.”
The globally innovative partnership between business and sport will provide the four times Asia champions, and three times J-league champions, in-depth knowledge and experience across the CFG global network which consists of the new Barclays Premier League Champions Manchester City with its senior, youth and women’s teams, Melbourne Heart and New York City Football Club.
In forming this partnership, YF Marinos will gain unrivalled access to CFG’s training methods, medical care, sport science, team management and coaching know-how, providing a motivational draw for young Japanese players and placing the club in pole position to support the national team efforts of creating a world-class team for the future.
Akira Kaetsu, YF Marinos President commented: “This collaboration presents a fantastic opportunity to boost the support and growth of our club, not only in the community through youth sport investment and increased attendance, but also internationally by attracting more sponsors and supporting the national team efforts.
“Over the last four years we have undergone significant reform within the club with the clear goal of becoming a leading club in Japan and we have achieved our target successfully. Now, alongside CFG we look forward to building on that foundation to take YF Marinos into the wider Asian and World arenas.”
YF Marinos has already established an impressive contribution to the national team with 16 players from YF Marinos having played for Japan since 1999 and with Manabu Saito recently being confirmed as part of the national team for this summer’s tournament. This new collaboration will bring operational excellence to support the growth of YF Marinos and Japanese football providing the support to recruit, develop, train and grow.
As a global brand, Nissan stands for innovation to excite their consumer, a brand essence shared by City Football Group. With this shared purpose the two partners will explore further global joint opportunities in the coming months.
