Chinese investor becomes majority owner of Premier League club Southampton

Premier League club Southampton announced Monday night on its official website that the soccer team has been acquired by a Chinese investor.

Oriol Romeu of Southampton (left) and Leroy Fer of Swansea play at St. Mary's Stadium during a Premier League match between Southampton and Swansea City on August 12, 2017 in Southampton, England. [Photo: IC]

It's being reported that Gao Jisheng, Chairman of Chinese investment company Lander Sports Development, has bought an 80% stake in Southampton with his daughter with 210 million pounds (about 272 million US dollars), while the previous majority shareholder Katharina Liebherr from Switzerland retains a 20% stake.

Liebherr has penned a letter to the fans of Southampton, saying that "Following extensive and fruitful work, we are entering into a partnership with the Gao family and I am excited about what we will achieve together. Today is the start of a new and exciting chapter for our club..."

A letter to the fans of Southampton from Katharina Liebherr, the club's previous majority shareholder [Photo: thepaper.cn]

Liebherr added that the club's current Chairman Ralph Krueger has received the full support of the new investor and he will still be the top leader of Southampton.

Gao said he is honored to have a stake in the club. "We have the passion and motivation to build on Southampton's excellent progress in recent years as we look forward to an exciting next chapter for the club," said Gao.

File photo of Gao Jisheng, Chairman of Chinese investment company Lander Sports Development [Photo: thepaper.cn]

In the Premier League, Southampton is not the only soccer team with Chinese investment. West Bromwich Albion was sold to a Chinese investment group headed by Lai Guochuan in August 2016.