Investment firm Sport Republic, backed by Serbian billionaire Dragan Solak, has completed its acquisition of Southampton by picking up an 80% stake in the club, it announced on Tuesday.
Solak, the owner of United Group, a telecommunications company, acquired the club from Chinese businessman Gao Jisheng, who bought his 80% stake in August 2017.
Southampton chief executive Martin Semens told the club's website: "Over the past two years, together with our club's shareholders, we have searched for the right partner to take the club forward. Today we have found the right solution for our club. have taken."
“Sport Republic are seasoned investors, but also experienced within the world of elite professional sports. This combination is hard to find, and we are thrilled to have reached an agreement that secures our short- and long-term future.”
Katharina Liebherr, who inherited the club from her late father Marcus in 2010 when they were in League One, the third tier of English football, will retain the other 20%.
The deal is the latest acquisition by the Premier League club in a span of months after Czech billionaire investor Daniil Kretinski acquired a stake in West Ham United in November.
Southampton are 14th in the Premier League with 21 points from 19 matches. They travel to second-tier Swansea City in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.