Giorgio Chiellini invests six figures in women’s football after watching Angel City

Former Italian footballer Giorgio Chiellini is now an investor in Mercury/13, the women’s club chain that includes Serie A club FC Como Women, the group said on Wednesday.

Chiellini had a prolific career, playing in Serie A and the Italian national team. The defender retired in December after spending the last two seasons with LAFC in Major League Soccer. His time in Los Angeles coincided with Angel City FC’s debut in the NWSL, which Chiellini said inspired him to invest in the women’s game.

“After spending time in the U.S., I saw the incredible progress that women’s soccer is making there and the potential it still has to reach in Europe,” Chiellini said in a statement. “I was inspired by the experience and I’m proud to be part of a project that aims to create new opportunities for female athletes and take the sport to the next level on the international stage.”

Mercury/13 described Chiellini’s investment as “significant” but did not provide details beyond the six-figure sum. At present, Chiellini will have no formal involvement beyond the investment, but will be available for informal consultations.

The former defender’s links with Mercury/13 began in February when he met their co-CEO, Victoire Cogevina Reynal, through their association with charity Common Goal, the group said. The executive was “delighted” that Chiellini had joined their group as an investor.

“His commitment reflects the growing appreciation and support for women’s football at the highest level,” Cogevina Reynal said in a statement. “Mercury/13’s strategy to acquire teams from European leagues will strengthen our influence and Giorgio’s commitment is a strong endorsement of our vision and strategy.”

Chiellini’s investment in women’s soccer comes at a time when the sport is experiencing record levels of interest and team valuations are skyrocketing. Last year, the NWSL secured a historic media rights deal valued at about $60 million across multiple four-year partnerships. The San Diego Wave later sold for a record valuation of about $120 million, but Angel City outsold it with an expanded investment that included Willow Bay and Bob Iger at a valuation of $250 million.

While the market in Europe may still be in its infancy when compared financially to the US, record attendance and interest suggest the market potential remains untapped. Links between American and European women’s soccer are also growing, as seen in the series of friendlies that have brought teams such as Chelsea and Arsenal to the US

Mercury/13 was founded in 2023 with the intention of taking a controlling stake in a number of professional women’s soccer clubs in Europe. At the time, the group, which includes former Aston Villa and Angel City sporting director Enki Aluko, pledged $100 million to invest in women’s soccer in Europe and Latin America. The group was close to taking a majority stake in Lewes FC, an English second-tier club, but those talks fell through in November.

In March, the group announced its first portfolio team, acquiring a controlling stake in FC Como Women in Serie A Femminile. The team has since unveiled a new brand identity and entered into a partnership with Nike, becoming what the group described as the first official supplier to an independent women’s club in Serie A.

Chiellini’s 22-year career spanned several clubs, winning a total of 27 titles. He is best known for his time at Juventus, where he spent almost 18 years, winning nine consecutive Serie A titles between 2011 and 2020. With the national team, Chiellini helped Italy win the 2020 European Championship and was named the tournament’s defender. While in Los Angeles, Chiellini reached the MLS Cup final twice, lifting the trophy in his debut season in the league.

It didn’t take long for Chiellini to return to football after retiring.

In January, LAFC announced he would remain at the club as a player development coach, working closely with the coaching staff to help develop first-team players. Last week, Chiellini’s other former club, Juventus, announced the defender would also return to their ranks, this time in a management role, serving as head of institutional football relations.

“Chiellini never truly left the Bianconeri – his heart, soul and values ​​have always been linked to the club, both on and off the pitch,” the club said on September 16.

(Top photo: Shaun Clark/Getty Images)