Manchester City have become the world’s most valuable football club after US-based investment firm Silver Lake agreed to buy just over 10 per cent of their ownership group for £389 million.



That would value City Football Group (CFG), which is comprised of the Premier League champions and six satellite clubs around the world, at £3.74 billion, a significant increase on the most recent estimates of its value. This takes CFG to the top of the global rich list ahead of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United. With City accounting for roughly 85 per cent of CFG turnover, it means they leapfrog just ahead of Real Madrid as the single richest club.



The size, source and timing of the investment will make people sit up throughout world football. It is a huge sum for a minority stake and does not come from a company based in Abu Dhabi or China, the homes of CFG’s existing owners. It also arrives at a time when the club are waiting to hear if they...