City Football Group is one of soccer’s most global brands, owning a large number of clubs around the world. Their range of clubs is diversified, and they form a partnership of clubs that cooperate with each other.
First formed in 2013 by Abu Dhabi’s royal family, it’s purpose was to create a global soccer brand, the likes of which were never seen. It’s flagship club is Premier League giant Manchester City, which is also their most successful club. And they are only furthering their global mission.
Which clubs are in City Football Group?
Before City Football Group was even created, the first acquisition was Premier League club Manchester City in 2008. Their success eventually led to City Football Group being created in 2013.
Their first club after the organization was formed was MLS club New York City FC in 2013. They own about 80% of the club and have seen lots of partnerships with Manchester City, having loaned Frank Lampard to them once. Next was Australian club Melbourne City, which was first bought in 2014, and fully took over by 2015.
They next took a minority stake in Japanese club Yokohama F Marinos in 2014, which is still majority owned by Nissan. Uruguayan club Montevideo City Torque was bought in 2017, and also serves as one of their most prominent scouting zones.
Spanish club Girona was their first acquisition in Europe after Manchester City, with 44.3% bought in 2017. City manager Pep Guardiola’s own brother, Pere is their chairman. They next bought a 28% stake in Chinese side Sichuan Jiuniu, which was only formed two years before. Next came a majority stake in Indian club Mumbai City, as well as Belgian club Lommel SK, Bolovian side Club Bolívar, and French club Troyes.
Most recently, they have bought majority stakes in Italian side Palermo and Brazilian club Bahia, and their latest partnership is with Turkish giants Istanbul Basaksehir. This makes City Football Group own or partner with 14 clubs around the whole globe.
How are the clubs in City Football Group performing?
City Football Group is not just buying clubs for no reason unlike Chelsea boss Todd Boehly. All of their clubs have been massively successful since their respective takeovers. Manchester City is perhaps now the best club in the world, having won the Champions League recently, and have won multiple Premier League titles as well as boasting the best players in the world.
New York City FC have won the MLS championship in 2021, as well Melbourne City in the A-league. Yokohama F Marinos also won the J1 league title in 2019 and 2023. Montevideo City Torque have experienced success in the form of promotions, while Sichuan Jiuniu have been promoted to the top Chinese tier this season.
Girona have been massively successful in La Liga this season, and fighting to win both the La Liga and Copa del Rey trophies. Mumbai City have won the Indian Super League in 2021 and 2023. The rest are yet to find any success as they have only been recently bought.
It looks like City Football Group could be a blueprint of how soccer can be in the future, with a worldwide partnership between various clubs.
