Clermont Foot 63 is set to change hands after an agreement was reached with a Franco-American investment group led by Jacques d’Arrigo, bringing down the curtain on Ahmet Schaefer’s seven-season ownership of the Ligue 2 club. The Swiss businessman, who purchased the Auvergne-based outfit for €4 million from Claude Michy in 2017, had been actively seeking a buyer following the club’s relegation from Ligue 1 last term.
Schaefer’s reign delivered the greatest period in Clermont’s history, including a first-ever promotion to the top flight in 2021 and a respectable 8th-place finish in their debut Ligue 1 campaign. Yet sustained top-level competition proved challenging on a limited budget, and a difficult 2023–24 season ended with demotion. With the club needing fresh backing to rebuild, Schaefer made no secret of his desire to move on.
Interest in the club materialized from several quarters. Among the early contenders was a bid fronted by Stéphane Tessier, the former right-hand man to Olympique de Marseille president Pablo Longoria. That group, however, has been pipped to the post by d’Arrigo’s consortium, which had been discretely advancing its plans since January, as first reported by regional daily La Montagne.
Jacques d’Arrigo is no stranger to the French sports business landscape. He previously held the role of commercial director at Girondins de Bordeaux, operating during a challenging period before the controversial Gérard Lopez takeover. More recently, he served as deputy general manager at top-tier rugby side Union Bordeaux-Bègles, where he helped drive commercial growth. This cross-sport expertise is expected to be instrumental in revitalizing Clermont’s off-field operations.
The Franco-American composition of the investment group mirrors a growing trend across European football, as U.S.-based capital seeks value outside the superclub tier. While the financial details of the transaction remain confidential, the consortium’s intent has been underlined by the swift appointment of a sporting director even before the ink has dried on the sale agreement.
That new sporting director is Baptiste Drouet, who arrives from FC Nantes with a strong reputation in talent identification. His time as head of recruitment at Les Canaris saw him unearth gems who helped the club win the Coupe de France in 2022 and maintain top-flight status. Drouet’s network and scouting acumen will be critical as Clermont looks to construct a squad capable of challenging for an immediate return to Ligue 1.
For the Clermont faithful, the takeover represents a potential turning point after months of uncertainty. The club’s model under Schaefer relied on frugality and clever scouting, but ultimately lacked the financial firepower to cement a place among France’s elite. The new investors are expected to provide a capital injection that stabilizes the club’s balance sheet and funds a competitive wage bill, though prudence will still be required given the febrile economics of French football.
The broader context of French football adds another layer of significance to the deal. With the LFP grappling with a collapse in domestic TV rights revenue, many Ligue 2 clubs are in survival mode. Against this backdrop, a takeover by international investors is a vote of confidence in the club’s potential and in the underlying value of French football assets. It also highlights the attractiveness of second-tier clubs with loyal fanbases and development-friendly infrastructures.
Negotiations are understood to be advanced to the point where only formalities remain. According to sources cited by L’Equipe, the agreement was formalized in the past few days, and both sides are working toward a smooth transition of power. The speed with which Drouet’s appointment was made public indicates the new owners are determined to waste no time in preparing for the summer transfer market.
For Ahmet Schaefer, the sale marks the end of a transformative but ultimately exhausting chapter. For Clermont Foot 63, it is the start of an ambitious new era under owners who blend local leadership with international financial muscle. The club’s supporters will now be eager to see words translate into actions on the pitch. Based on reporting from L’Equipe.