The owners of English Premier League side Burnley, Velocity Sport Limited (VSL), have reached an agreement to take control of Spanish football club Espanyol. The deal was confirmed on Monday following negotiations with Espanyol’s majority shareholders, Rastar Group.
According to a statement released by the Spanish club, Rastar is not completely pulling out of Espanyol. Instead, their shares will be absorbed into a new investment structure led by VSL, which already owns Burnley. This move means Espanyol becomes the second club under VSL ownership, though both teams will continue to function independently.
The statement emphasized that the arrangement allows the two historic clubs to maintain their unique identities while benefiting from shared financial backing. Despite remaining autonomous in operations, they will be supported by the same investment group.
Rastar Group, a Chinese company led by Chen Yansheng, took over Espanyol in 2015. However, the tenure has been marked by fan unrest, largely due to the club’s inconsistent performances and two relegations from Spain’s top division.
This acquisition comes at a time when multi-club ownership models face growing scrutiny. Earlier this month, UEFA demoted Crystal Palace from the Europa League to the Conference League due to ownership conflicts involving French club Lyon. American investor John Textor holds major stakes in both clubs, prompting the ruling which Palace plans to appeal.
The Espanyol acquisition by VSL further highlights the increasing influence of multi-club investment structures across European football.
