Crux Sports, a company founded by former New Zealand women’s national team captain Bex Smith, is seeking to raise approximately $50 million to acquire women’s soccer teams across Europe, Bloomberg reports.
The plan aims to bring five clubs under Crux ownership, with potential acquisitions in France, Sweden, Spain, Germany, and the UK. According to reports, the firm intends to purchase these teams for nominal fees while taking responsibility for their operational funding and growth.
Talks with investors are ongoing as Crux pitches its multi-club vision.
A Leader with Global Experience
Smith, who captained New Zealand at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and Olympic Games, enjoyed a decorated playing career that included Champions League glory and multiple domestic titles with German side VfL Wolfsburg. She also played in Sweden, Australia, and the United States before transitioning into leadership roles off the pitch.
Post-retirement, Smith worked in FIFA’s strategic planning for women’s football, co-founded a production company, and served as global executive director of the women’s game at Copa90 before launching Crux Sports.
A Growing Trend in Women’s Football Ownership
Crux Sports joins a wave of investment interest in women’s soccer. US entrepreneur Michele Kang has built a multi-club portfolio including the NWSL’s Washington Spirit, England’s London City Lionesses, and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin in France.
Similarly, Mercury 13 has begun its multi-club project with Como Women in Italy, while US-based Monarch Collectivehas taken stakes in three NWSL clubs. Major investment firm Sixth Street has also launched its own women’s sports group.
If successful, Crux Sports’ initiative could accelerate the professionalisation and commercial growth of the women’s game in Europe, positioning it alongside the sport’s most ambitious ownership models.
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IMAGE: AP
