Former Chelsea, AC Milan and Brazil forward Alexandre Pato has had a takeover deal approved for League Two side Northampton Town. The Cobblers have released a statement confirming that Sports Alpha Capital (SAC), a consortium which includes the 37-year-old, has had its proposed shareholding acquisition of the club approved by the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and English Football League (EFL).
Details of the investment
The exact size of SAC's proposed shareholding has not been disclosed at this stage, but the takeover comes just a few months after the consortium pulled out of a takeover with League Two side Colchester United. Northampton say the exact details of the investment will be disclosed at a later stage when the deal is completed.
The London-based independent investment management firm Gemcorp Capital is also listed as one of the investors making up the SAC consortium. Pato retired from professional football three years ago and is now on the verge of taking the next step in his football career with the bid to take over the troubled Cobblers.
Chairman's statement
Northampton chairman Kelvin Thomas said: "This has been a detailed and rigorous process, involving significant scrutiny of the proposed investment, the ownership structure, financial sustainability, and the suitability and financial standing of those involved."
"The successful completion of both the IFR and EFL processes represents an important milestone for the club and should provide supporters and stakeholders with further confidence in the proposed investment and the foundations being put in place for the club's future. We would like to thank both the EFL and the IFR for their professionalism, diligence and thoroughness throughout their respective processes."
"As supporters will see from their varied backgrounds, there is a genuine passion for football within the group. A number of the investors have already visited Northampton, spent time at the club and attended matches. They will bring a strong blend of football, corporate and financial expertise to the club and with significant Brazilian representation within the group we also hope they might bring a little Brazilian excitement and flair with them."
Next steps and background
"Now the regulatory processes have been completed we move towards completing the remaining documentation and finalising the investment. Full details regarding the investment, structure and the principal investors involved will be announced upon completion. We thank the fans for their patience, but it is reassuring that these in-depth processes are in place for football."
Northampton finished bottom of League One last season and were relegated to the fourth tier of English football, and find themselves without a win in 2026-27. Pato won 27 caps for Brazil and is best known in Europe for his six years with AC Milan, where he won Serie A in 2010/11. He also played for Brazilian sides Internacional, Corinthians and Sao Paulo, as well as Villarreal, Orlando City and Chelsea, where he spent a brief loan spell in 2016.
