LONDON: Chinese businessman Jisheng Gao, who had confirmed in January that his company Lander Sports Development had agreed terms to take a controlling stake in Premier League side Southampton FC, completed the deal Monday but in a personal capacity.
Jisheng and his family are buying an 80 per cent stake in Southampton FC, with the remaining 20 per cent staying with Katharina Liebherr, who inherited the Saints from her late father, Markus, in 2010 when the club was is League One.
Liebherr issued the following statement Monday on the club's website: "I am pleased to confirm that talks to bring in a new partner to our club have been concluded.
"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 (Monday) is the start of a new and exciting chapter for our club. Mr Jisheng Gao and his daughter, Mrs Nelly Gao, with whom I have built a close relationship, share our values and ambitions. As a team, we will strive to build upon the strong foundation that is in place towards sustainable long-term success.
"Mr Gao, Nelly and I have full trust in (club chairman) Ralph Krueger and his management team. We wholeheartedly support their plans to follow the Southampton Way in the years ahead."
Jisheng added: "I am honoured and humbled to become a partner of Southampton Football Club alongside Katharina Liebherr, who, together with her father, has been such a great steward of the club, its growth and success.
"Together, 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."
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