- Velocity Sports Limited, owners of Burnley, acquired a controlling stake in Espanyol
- Espanyol and Burnley will remain independent despite shared ownership
- Former Espanyol owners RASTAR Group will stay involved as part of the new investment group
Key Takeaways:
Velocity Sports Limited, the owners of English football club Burnley, have reached a deal to acquire a controlling stake in Spanish side Espanyol.
NFL legend and Burnley minority owner J.J. Watt, alongside Burnley owners, will take over LaLiga club Espanyol.
Both Espanyol and Burnley will remain independent. pic.twitter.com/2KHif3iB6Y
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) July 14, 2025
“With this deal, Espanyol and Burnley become part of our investment group, which expands its reach from the Premier League to La Liga. We guarantee that both clubs will remain independent from each other,” Espanyol said in a statement to media and fans.
The Chinese company RASTAR Group had owned Espanyol since 2015, during which the club experienced two relegations and two promotions to La Liga. The best league finish in that period was seventh place in the 2018/2019 season.
Burnley have also faced challenges maintaining Premier League status in recent years. Over the last four seasons, the club has either been relegated to the Championship or won promotion back to the top flight. In the most recent campaign, Burnley finished second with 100 points and a remarkable defensive record of just 16 goals conceded.
“The current owners of Espanyol are not leaving the club but will become part of the new investment group, which will hold shares in both clubs,” the Catalan side added.