Spanish side Real Unión have confirmed they are now officially part of Aston Villa’s growing network under V Sport and Nassef Sawiris.
That’s according to 2 Playbook, who report that Unión have confirmed their entry into the ‘Aston Villa holding company’ as part of a €4.5m expansion.
El Diario Vasco and Noticias de Gipuzkoa also confirm the news, reporting that a General Meeting on Thursday saw unanimous approval for the arrival of V Sports.
According to the reports, the club from Irun has approved the capital operation, which aims to ‘advance a sports investment plan’ and get the club back to La Liga.
V Sports are now officially shareholders at the club, meaning the Aston Villa owners are now in complete control of the Spanish side. Their investment and the percentage they’ve acquired are unknown, however.
The group will support the investment plan that Unión have put in place, including infrastructure improvements projects such as with Stadium Gal. The club are also expected to increase their sporting commitment to try and return to La Liga.
Unión become the first club in Spain to be owner by V Sports and the third in Europe alongside Aston Villa and Vitória Sport Clube – better known as Vitoria de Guimarães.
They also have ‘strategic alliances’ in place with Zed FC of the Egyptian Premier League and Vissel Kobe in Japanese First Division.
The group, headed up by Sawiris, have big plans for the future and that includes Unión, where Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is one of the owners and his brother Igor Emery, is president.
“We are at a key moment in which the Emery family wants to consolidate its commitment to the Real Unión Club project, but adding an extra of professionalism, ambition and demand,” Igor is reported saying in a statement.
“Firstly, to improve and progressively professionalise its administrative and sporting structure with the goal and the hope of reaching the professional competitions of Spanish football,” he added when discussing objectives in a statement for shareholders.
“And for this to also have a direct impact on the shareholders of the company, which will translate into a considerable increase in the value of each title.
“In this way, everyone who has decided to accompany us on this journey will be rewarded with a well-deserved revaluation of their investment, in addition to the satisfaction of belonging to a great club.”
