Manchester City expand global reach by investing in J-League team Yokohama Marinos

City Football Group: Rapidly expanding in the Asia – Pacific region

Manchester City’s foray into the Asia-Pacific region continued as they declared their investment in the football club Yokohama F. Marinos of the Japanese League. The club finished runners-up last season and seem to be struggling this season at 12th spot in the 18 team J-League Division 1. Manchester City earler had bought the club Melbourne Heart of the Australian League.

Ferran Soriano, CEO, City Football Group (Manchester City holding company) said:

“We’re thrilled to be able to play a role in investing and building on the ongoing success of YF Marinos,”

“We are proud to offer a collaborative and integrated approach to the football, marketing, media and commercial development of all the clubs in the City family. At the same time, we are proud that each of our clubs is firmly rooted and invested in its local community as well as connected and engaged with its supporter base. We are very much looking forward to starting our collaboration.”

CEO and President, Carlos Ghosn, of Nissan Motor Company which is the main shareholder of the Japanese club announced:

"This partnership will contribute to the growth of the club, the club's home town and Japanese soccer,"

City Football Group(CFG) now has a global network consisting of the newly crowned English Premier League champions Manchester City, Melbourne Heart FC of Australia and New York City FC, a US Major League Soccer outfit.