According to the latest reports from a team of Spanish journalists, the investment consortium led by Sergio Ramos, the former Spain and Real Madrid defender, has entered an exclusive negotiation period to acquire Sevilla FC.
Reports in early January stated that the 39-year-old Ramos is leading a bid of €400 million (£348.2 million) for the club where he began his youth career.
Insiders, who requested anonymity to protect their relationships, revealed that Ramos and his team have submitted a letter of intent and launched a three-month exclusive negotiation period for the bidding party to complete the acquisition.
At present, the final completion of the acquisition cannot be guaranteed as the club's financial situation still needs to undergo due diligence, the results of which will determine whether the consortium proceeds with the acquisition.
There remains uncertainty over the valuation of Sevilla’s debt – club insiders revealed the debt may be around €180 million – and the club is still awaiting the results of an external audit commissioned by the bidding party.
Sevilla’s financial situation has deteriorated significantly in recent years. The club posted a loss of €81.8 million in the 2023-24 season and secured a €108 million loan arranged by Goldman Sachs in March 2024.
Last year, another US investment consortium entered the exclusive phase of acquiring Sevilla but later withdrew from the bidding.
Ramos is not the largest investor in this acquisition case, but as the public face, he has led the takeover. The World Cup winner partnered with asset management firm JB Capital Fund to find suitable investors, ultimately choosing Five Eleven Capital, led by Martin Inke and backed by US investment.
Journalists have currently contacted JB Capital Fund and Five Eleven Capital for comment.
In January this year, Ramos traveled to Seville with his legal team to meet with some of the club's shareholders.
Sevilla FC’s ownership is spread across multiple groups and families, including the Del Nido family (24%), the Sevilla fan group (22%), former club president Rafael Carrión (15%), and Sevilla United 2020 (15%).
Ramos made his first-team debut for Sevilla in February 2004. After a 16-year spell at Real Madrid and two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, he returned to Sevilla in 2023.
The defender made a total of 87 appearances for Sevilla across his two spells at the club and is currently a free agent after leaving Mexican club CF Monterrey in December last year.
