July 22 \u2013 Paul Gheysens has relinquished ownership control of Belgian club Antwerp with a consortium spearheaded by Wouter Vandenhaute and Toby Alderweireld stepping in.<\/p>\n
The club was under mounting financial pressure as majority shareholder Gheysens, a local real estate behemoth, built up debt as his other businesses came under pressure. The consortium taking over is led by entrepreneur Vandenhaute, former Port of Antwerp-Bruges CEO Jacques Vandermeiren, and former Belgium international Alderweireld. It is supported by dozens of local investors and credit backing from Belgian bank KBC.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gheysens faced a tight deadline to repay an estimated \u20ac7.5 -10 million loan to hedge fund Fasanara, which was on the verge of taking partial control of Belgium\u2019s oldest football club.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Under the new ownership, Vandenhaute will become the majority shareholder and Vandermeiren will serve as chairman.Alderweireld will serve in an ambassadorial role.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a statement, CEO Sven Jacques said: \u201cTogether with the new shareholders, I am taking the next step in the development of our ambitious club. This requires a realistic sporting vision, with targeted investments, strong scouting, the right transfers, and maximum opportunities for homegrown talent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSuccess is not built overnight, which is why I look back with pride on the solid foundations Paul Gheysens built for RAFC. Together with the Antwerp consortium, I will continue working on this with enormous conviction.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sale marks the end of Gheysens\u2019 nine-year tenure. After taking over a struggling second-tier club in 2015, Gheysens financed a dramatic turnaround that culminated in a historic league and cup double in 2023 and a redevelopment of the Bosuil Stadium. However, recent financial pressure on his real estate empire forced budget cuts and player sales.<\/p>\n