Fnatic in Final Sale Phase: Football Clubs Confirmed in Talks

British esports organization Fnatic is entering the final phase of its sale process, with a decision expected within a few weeks. According to information gathered by RFT, football clubs have been among the parties involved in the discussions, and several offers—ranging from a minority stake to a full acquisition—are currently on the table.

According to information obtained by RFT from professional sources close to the deal, Fnatic is now in the final phase of an investment process that began several months ago. The organization has received several formal offers covering both a minority stake and a full acquisition.

"The sale process is still ongoing. We are in the final phase. They have offers for a minority investment as well as for a full acquisition, and a decision will be made in the coming weeks," this source confided to RFT.

Football Clubs in the Loop

The persistent rumors over the past several months regarding football clubs' interest in taking a stake in Fnatic—notably German and Spanish clubs —are "not entirely false," and this avenue is indeed part of the ongoing discussions, even though the names of the clubs actually involved cannot be confirmed at this stage.

"I can confirm that this was part of the discussions we have had," states the firm's representative, who declined to go further on the identity of the parties concerned.

A Window Almost Closed

In theory, a new entrant could still position itself in the race, but the tight timeline makes this scenario unlikely. The discussions with the parties already identified are described as "well advanced," and several letters of intent (LOIs) have already been received.

"There isn't really time for a new party to enter the process. In theory it's possible, but they would have to move extremely fast," we are told.

Valuation: Less Than 100 Million

An earlier article in the British press mentioned, last year, a valuation of around $100 million. Asked about this point, our source indicates having "several deal structures on the table," but for a valuation that should be substantially lower. RFT is awaiting further details on the final valuation, which should be communicated once the deal is signed.

What Now?

A final decision is expected in the coming weeks. At that point, Fnatic should reveal both the exact nature of the chosen transaction—minority investment or full sale—and the identity of the new entrant(s) into its capital.

RFT reached out to Fnatic for comment, but the organization declined to provide any further statement on the situation.