Football chiefs are to bring in Wall Street’s best-known investment bank to explore options for financing the growth of women’s football in England.
Sky News has learnt that the board of the WSL are close to hiring Goldman Sachs to evaluate opportunities for raising new funding.
The project is at a very early stage, with further details on the potential outcome unclear this weekend.
The possibility of selling a stake in the WSL and the rebranded Championship – now known as WSL2 – has been explored in the past, and could be reviewed again as executives seek to capitalise on the sport’s profile.
The England women’s team made history during the summer by retaining their European Championships title after a penalty shootout in the Final against Spain.
In the last few months, both Chelsea and West Ham United have sold stakes in their women’s teams to external investors, with the former striking a deal with the husband of former tennis superstar Serena Williams.
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Deloitte, the accountancy firm which has been involved in a string of prominent recent sports deals, including the sale of stakes in the eight Hundred cricket franchises, is also said to be being lined up to work with the WSL Football board.
A WSL Football spokesman told Sky News: “Like any responsible business with ambition, WSL Football is working in collaboration with member clubs to explore long-term growth strategies that can accelerate the positive momentum within the women’s game.”
The spokesman declined to comment on the involvement of Goldman Sachs or Deloitte.
News of the review comes with the WSL and WSL2 seasons well underway.
On Friday night, Chelsea surrendered their 100% record at the top of the WSL when Manchester United came from behind to draw with the Londoners.
In the WSL2, Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic lead the race for promotion to…
