Sport Republic

Sport Republic is a British sports investment firm established by Rasmus Ankersen and Henrik Kraft around a strategy of investing in football clubs and sports-related technology businesses. The firm is financed by Serbian businessman Dragan Šolak, who is also associated with United Group, a media and telecommunications group operating in Southeast Europe. Sport Republic is designed around a multi-club ownership model: rather than treating a football club as an isolated asset, it seeks to connect clubs through shared expertise, recruitment, player development, commercial capabilities and broader sporting infrastructure. The firm's first major football transaction was the acquisition, announced in January 2022, of an 80% stake in Southampton Football Club from Chinese businessman Gao Jisheng. Southampton became the centrepiece of Sport Republic's portfolio and the principal platform for its stated ambition to develop a smaller-scale multi-club structure comparable in concept, though not in size, to City Football Group. The investment initially supported an aggressive emphasis on younger players and squad renewal. Southampton recruited several young or developing players during the 2022 summer transfer window, followed by further additions in January 2023. The sporting results were mixed: the club changed managers repeatedly, was relegated from the Premier League in May 2023, returned to the Premier League after the 2023–24 Championship season, and was relegated again in April 2025. These events made Southampton the clearest test of Sport Republic's ownership model and prompted changes in senior leadership and football management. Sport Republic expanded outside England in August 2022 by acquiring a 70% stake in Turkish club Göztepe. The transaction was significant in Turkish football because it was described as the first purchase of a Turkish club by a foreign investor. Göztepe subsequently won promotion to the Süper Lig at the end of the 2023–24 season and finished eighth in the 2024–25 campaign. In July 2023, Sport Republic became the controlling shareholder of French club Valenciennes. Valenciennes was relegated to France's Championnat National at the end of the 2023–24 season. The firm also acquired Mali Coura, the senior team of Mali's ABM Foot Academy, in 2025, further extending its portfolio into African football. Beyond club ownership, Sport Republic has taken stakes in businesses connected with athlete development, sports media, fan engagement, technology and sports nutrition. Companies associated with its investment activity include Tonsser, a football youth-development application; Sport Buff, a sports streaming and fan-engagement platform; Sportlight, a sports technology company; and Hexis, a sports nutrition application. These investments indicate that the firm views football as part of a wider sports ecosystem rather than only a match-day entertainment business. Sport Republic's origins also intersect with the Southeast European sports-media market. United Group had previously held rights to broadcast Premier League matches in parts of Southeast Europe through Sport Klub, but those rights were lost in 2021 to Arena Sport, a network connected with rival state-backed telecommunications company Telekom Srbija. Šolak has said that the decision to invest in Southampton was not related to the loss of those broadcasting rights. As of the available reference material, Sport Republic remains a private and active investment firm. Its public identity is principally defined by football club ownership, cross-border portfolio construction and investment in sports technology rather than by consumer products sold directly under the Sport Republic name.

Sport Republic was created by Rasmus Ankersen and Henrik Kraft as a sports investment business centred on football club ownership and sports technology. Ankersen had previously worked as Brentford's director of football, while Kraft had been a partner at private-equity firm KKR. The founders presented the firm as a vehicle for building a multi-club football structure, with connected clubs able to share sporting knowledge, recruitment systems and development resources. Dragan Šolak became the firm's lead investor. Šolak is the founder of United Group, a Serbian media company with interests in Southeast Europe. The relationship emerged against a background of competition in the regional sports-broadcasting market. United Group had previously distributed Premier League coverage through Sport Klub, but in 2021 Premier League rights in relevant markets moved to Arena Sport, a network associated with rival Telekom Srbija. Šolak later rejected the suggestion that the loss of those broadcasting rights motivated the purchase of Southampton. Sport Republic's first major transaction was announced on 4 January 2022, when it acquired an 80% stake in Southampton from Gao Jisheng. Southampton became the firm's principal asset and the first club in its planned portfolio. The new ownership signalled an interest in younger players and a more integrated approach to squad construction. During the 2022 summer transfer window, Southampton signed Gavin Bazunu, Mateusz Lis, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Roméo Lavia, Joe Aribo, Sékou Mara, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Samuel Edozie and Juan Larios permanently, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles joined on loan. Manager Ralph Hasenhüttl described the recruitment effort positively, but results deteriorated. Hasenhüttl left in November 2022, and Nathan Jones was appointed from Luton Town. Jones lasted only 95 days and was dismissed in February 2023 after four defeats in four matches. Rubén Sellès then managed the side for the rest of the campaign. Southampton also recruited heavily in January 2023, signing Kamaldeen Sulemana, Mislav Oršić, Carlos Alcaraz, James Bree and Paul Onuachu. The club nevertheless finished the season relegated to the Championship. After relegation, long-serving chief executive Martin Semmens left his position and the club underwent wider organisational changes. Šolak became chairman following Kraft's departure from the role. Russell Martin was appointed manager in June 2023 and guided Southampton back to the Premier League after the 2023–24 Championship season. The return was short-lived: Martin was dismissed during the next campaign after one win in sixteen matches, with Ivan Jurić replacing him. Southampton was effectively relegated again on 6 April 2025, earlier than any previous team in Premier League history. Jurić left by mutual consent, and Will Still was announced as the next manager on a three-year contract for the following Championship season. The portfolio expanded rapidly beyond England. On 19 August 2022, Sport Republic acquired a 70% stake in Göztepe, becoming the first foreign investor reported to have bought a club in Turkish football. Ankersen was appointed chairman. Göztepe achieved promotion to the Süper Lig at the end of the 2023–24 season and finished eighth in the top division in 2024–25. In July 2023, Sport Republic became the majority shareholder of Valenciennes in France. Valenciennes was relegated to the Championnat National after the 2023–24 season. In 2025, the firm acquired Mali Coura, the senior team of ABM Foot Academy in Mali. Sport Republic's activities also include investments in companies adjacent to football and sports performance. Its associated portfolio companies include Tonsser, a youth football development application; Sport Buff, a sports streaming and engagement platform; Sportlight, a sports technology company; and Hexis, a sports nutrition application. These investments complement the club strategy by giving the firm exposure to player discovery, media, fan interaction and athlete performance. Kraft left his position as a director of Sport Republic UK Ltd on 1 February 2025 and had already stepped down as chairman of Southampton and Valenciennes earlier that year. Available reference material indicates that he remained an active director of Sport Republic Holding Ltd at that time. The firm remains privately held and active, with its identity shaped chiefly by cross-border football ownership and investment in the wider sports economy.

• 2025

  Mali Coura joins the football portfolio

  [1]Sport Republicen.wikipedia.org

  Sport Republic acquired Mali Coura, the main team of ABM Foot Academy.

• 2025

  Southampton is relegated again

  [1]Sport Republicen.wikipedia.org

  Southampton was effectively relegated from the Premier League on 6 April, with seven matches still to play.

• 2024

  Southampton and Göztepe achieve promotion milestones

  [1]Sport Republicen.wikipedia.org

  Southampton returned to the Premier League, while Göztepe won promotion to Turkey's Süper Lig.

• 2023

  Southampton is relegated

  [1]Sport Republicen.wikipedia.org

  Southampton dropped from the Premier League to the Championship after Sport Republic's first full season as owner.

• 2023

  Valenciennes joins the portfolio

  [1]Sport Republicen.wikipedia.org

  Sport Republic became the controlling shareholder of French club Valenciennes.

• 2022

  Sport Republic acquires Southampton stake

  [1]Sport Republicen.wikipedia.org

  The firm acquired 80% of Southampton Football Club from Gao Jisheng, establishing the foundation of its multi-club football strategy.

• 2022

  Sport Republic acquires Göztepe stake

  [1]Sport Republicen.wikipedia.org

  Sport Republic purchased 70% of Göztepe, becoming the first foreign investor described as acquiring a club in Turkish football.

A private sports investment platform pursuing a connected, international football portfolio and complementary sports technology investments.

• Football club investment · 2022

  Southampton Football Club

  Southampton is Sport Republic's principal football asset. The firm holds an 80% stake and has used the club as the central platform for its multi-club strategy. Ownership has involved investment in young players, changes in executive leadership and several managerial appointments. Southampton was relegated in 2023, promoted in 2024 and relegated again in 2025.

• Football club investment · 2022

  Göztepe S.K.

  Göztepe is a Turkish football club in which Sport Republic holds a 70% stake. The acquisition expanded the firm's portfolio into Turkey and was described as the first foreign acquisition of a Turkish football club. Göztepe returned to the Süper Lig in 2024 and finished eighth in the 2024–25 season.

• Football club investment · 2023

  Valenciennes F.C.

  Valenciennes is a French football club that became majority-owned by Sport Republic in 2023. The club was relegated to the Championnat National at the end of the 2023–24 season.

• Football club investment · 2025

  Mali Coura

  Mali Coura is the senior team of ABM Foot Academy in Mali. Sport Republic acquired the team in 2025, extending its football ownership activities into West Africa.

• Youth football technology

  Tonsser

  Tonsser is a football youth-development application associated with Sport Republic's investment portfolio. It is focused on helping young players present and develop their football profiles.

• Sports media technology

  Sport Buff

  Sport Buff is a sports streaming and fan-engagement business associated with Sport Republic's wider sports technology investment activity.

• Sports technology

  Sportlight

  Sportlight is a sports technology company in which Sport Republic has acquired a stake. The available reference material identifies it as part of the firm's technology-oriented portfolio but does not specify the full product range.

• Sports nutrition technology

  Hexis

  Hexis is a sports nutrition application associated with Sport Republic's investments in athlete-performance and sports-wellness technology.

• 2025

  Change chairmanship at SouthamptonOther

  Background

  Henrik Kraft stepped away from the chairmanship during a period of organisational change at Southampton and Valenciennes.

  Action taken

  Kraft resigned as Southampton chairman and Dragan Šolak replaced him.

  Aftermath

  Kraft later left his directorship of Sport Republic UK Ltd while remaining listed as an active director of Sport Republic Holding Ltd in the available reference material.

  Source

• 2025

  Acquire Mali CouraM&A

  Background

  The acquisition extended Sport Republic's football network into Mali and connected the portfolio with the ABM Foot Academy.

  Action taken

  Sport Republic acquired Mali Coura, the academy's main team.

  Source

• 2023

  Reorganise Southampton after relegationOther

  Background

  Southampton's relegation prompted Sport Republic to reassess the club's leadership and operating structure.

  Action taken

  Chief executive Martin Semmens left his position, senior organisational changes were made and Dragan Šolak became chairman.

  Aftermath

  Russell Martin was appointed manager and led the club back to the Premier League after the 2023–24 season.

  Source

• 2023

  Acquire control of ValenciennesM&A

  Background

  The transaction continued Sport Republic's plan to assemble a geographically diverse football portfolio.

  Action taken

  Sport Republic became the majority shareholder of Valenciennes.

  Aftermath

  Valenciennes was relegated to the Championnat National at the end of the 2023–24 season.

  Source

• 2022

  Acquire an 80% stake in SouthamptonM&A

  Background

  Sport Republic sought to establish a multi-club football platform, with Southampton as its principal English asset.

  Action taken

  The firm purchased 80% of Southampton from Gao Jisheng.

  Aftermath

  The club became the centre of Sport Republic's portfolio but was relegated in 2023, promoted in 2024 and relegated again in 2025.

  Source

• 2022

  Expand into Turkish football through GöztepeM&A

  Background

  The investment broadened Sport Republic's multi-club strategy beyond England.

  Action taken

  Sport Republic acquired 70% of Göztepe and appointed Rasmus Ankersen as chairman.

  Aftermath

  Göztepe won promotion to the Süper Lig in 2024 and finished eighth in the 2024–25 season.

  Source

• 2022

  Adopt a youth-focused Southampton recruitment strategyStrategy

  Background

  The new ownership aimed to refresh Southampton's squad and build longer-term value through younger players.

  Action taken

  Southampton signed a large group of young or developing players during the 2022 summer window and added five more players in January 2023.

  Aftermath

  The recruitment programme did not prevent relegation in 2023 and was followed by substantial organisational and managerial changes.

  Source

1. 1Sport Republicen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Sport Republic official websitesportrepublic.com