Real Madrid and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has become the latest high-profile figure to invest in French Ligue 2 side Le Mans FC. The 33-year-old joins tennis star Novak Djokovic and former Formula 1 drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen as co-owners of the club, which has drawn comparisons to Wrexham due to its celebrity investors.
Courtois, who spent seven years at Chelsea, acquired his stake through his company NxtPlay. The move comes after Brazilian investment group OutField took over Le Mans over the summer. The club currently sits fifth in the French second division, just three points off the top of the table.
In a statement, Le Mans FC said: “A two-time UEFA Champions League winner and iconic goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois brings top-level expertise, both on and off the pitch.” The club also highlighted a project to build a training centre dedicated to developing local talent, with the aim of becoming a national benchmark in youth development.
Courtois follows in the footsteps of his Real Madrid teammates Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, who have also invested in clubs. Mbappe is majority shareholder of SM Caen in the French third tier, while Vinicius is a majority investor in Portuguese Primeira Liga side FC Alverca.
OutField said the strengthened group of investors aims to accelerate Le Mans FC’s structural development and unlock its sporting and commercial potential, while club president Thierry Gomez remains at the helm of the project he initiated in 2016.
