Dubai investment fund in talks to buy Toulouse | OneFootball

According to a report from L’Équipe, a Dubai-based investment fund are interested in buying Toulouse FC from their American owners, RedBird Capital Partners.

World Gate Investments confirmed to L’Équipe, “We have made inquiries. We are in discussions with RedBird.” They also reportedly added, “The conditions seem interesting to us. It’s within our capabilities.”

Raphaël Le Magoariec, a geopolitical scientist specialising in the Gulf states, explained to the French paper that the United Arab Emirates investment fund is “closer to American investment funds than to sovereign wealth funds. Moreover, it is not owned by a member of the inner circle of the ruling family.”

This is not the first time Toulouse have been linked with a sale. In 2023, RedBird considered withdrawing from the club when the Ligue 1 side qualified for the 2023/24 Europa League. This was because AC Milan (RedBird’s other club) were also playing in the competition, and the investment fund would have been in breach of UEFA rules on multi-club ownership.

However, Toulouse avoided this situation by remodelling its organisational structure. In 2024, there were also reports that US-based Otro Capital were interested in buying RedBird’s shares.

The club declined to provide a comment to L’Équipe.

GFFN | Nick Hartland