Reports indicate that NBA legend Kevin Durant has made a significant investment in Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), a prominent team in the French Ligue 1.
The Phoenix Suns player, who recently secured an Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games, has acquired a minority stake in the French club through Arctos Sports Partners, an investment group that holds a 12.5% share in PSG. The French champions are gearing up to defend their title for the fourth consecutive season.
Kevin Durant’s recent Olympic success isn’t the only connection he now has to Paris. The 14-time NBA All-Star, who played a pivotal role in securing a fifth straight Olympic basketball title for Team USA at Paris 2024, is reportedly expanding his ties to the French capital by investing in PSG. At 35, Durant is looking to enhance the club’s presence and brand recognition in the United States which already has some momentum since the Jordan brand partnership began back in 2018 and the global profile of payers like Kylian Mbappé.
French journalist Julien Laurens, writing for ESPN, reported that Durant is “very excited” and “serious” about his involvement with PSG. Durant has already toured the training facilities, where he met with head coach Luis Enrique, as well as players and staff from both the men’s and women’s teams.
In a video released by PSG’s media team, Durant expressed his admiration for Paris and the club, stating.
“The history, the love for sport, the love for art in general. I get so much love every time I come here. I appreciate the sport, it’s a beautiful city to be in. This [training ground] is amazing, it’s about a year old. This is the best practice facility in the world. I’m grateful to be here.”
Laurens further reported that Durant’s investment was made through Arctos Sports Partners, an American investment fund that holds a 12.5% stake in PSG. The club is valued at $4.6 billion (€4.25bn).
This isn’t the first time KD has invested in a sports team, Durant, a passionate football (soccer) fan, also owns a 5% stake in Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union which he acquired back in 2020.
PSG, are the current holders of three consecutive Ligue 1 titles and 12 top-flight trophies in total. They will also be competing in this season’s Champions League against the giants of Europe, a trophy that has eluded them so far, even with a historical roster that has included greats like Ronaldinho, Messi, Neymar Jr, Mbappé, Beckham, Ibrahimović, and many more.
