Millions of pounds of transfers, including Antoine Griezmann’s to Barcelona, have roots in a fund started five years agoIt did not make headlines at the time. And you’ve probably not heard of it since. But a little more than five years on from its establishment in the plush surroundings of London’s Mayfair district, XXIII Capital has become one of the most influential investment funds in football, financing millions of pounds worth of transfers, including Antoine Griezmann’s €120m move to
Barcelona and that of his replacement at Atlético Madrid, João Félix, not to mention individual clubs including Benfica and Watford.
Set up by the
Australian Stephen Duval and
British businessman Jason Traub for a nominal value of £2, XXIII Capital – also known as 23 Capital since the start of last year – had bases in
London,
New York and
Los Angeles before it opened an office in Barcelona in August.