An American investment group led by American Jordan Gardner has bought 51% of the majority shareholding in FC Helsingør.
The investment has fallen into place after long, tough negotiations, where the parties have had plenty of time to get to know each other in depth.
The ambition is for FC Helsingør to be among the 15 best clubs in Denmark, and to focus on developing talents for resale, preferably abroad or to top clubs in Denmark. There will be both Danish talents, especially from Helsingør's catchment area in North Zealand, combined with the best talents from the American investment group's contacts in the USA.
Director Janus Kyhl is a happy man now that the sale has fallen into place
– It has been very important for us to stand firm on the local roots. For quite a few years now we have been known as a club that gave playing time to young Danish football talents who may have fallen through the cracks elsewhere. One could mention players like Kasper Enghardt, Mads Aaquist, Vito Hammershøy-Mistrati and André Riel. We must continue to do that, while at the same time, and even more than now, we must bring talents up from our own academy and turn them into 1. division and Superliga players.
That we now also get the opportunity to enter a somewhat untapped territory in the USA, I am sure will be a huge gain for us. MLS is a strong league, but they are not very good at using their own American talents, and we are sure that there are some good players over there whom we can introduce to European football and realize their talent.
For the American investor group, it was especially FC Helsingør's strong staff and infrastructure that were decisive, says Jordan Gardner:
– The club has a strong infrastructure, a very strong sporting management, as well as a skilled administration, a new stadium just around the corner, and an academy that has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years. We want to create one of Denmark's best youth academies, where a good mix of young Danish players and the best American talents from our partners will be developed into top Danish football, and in the longer term abroad. We are very much looking forward to getting started.
Jordan Gardner will initially join as chairman of the board of the public limited company FC Helsingør A/S, while current chairman Finn Moseholm will continue as chairman of the board on the association side. Janus Kyhl will continue as CEO of FC Helsingør.
The full video from the press conference will be shared here on the site and on Facebook during the afternoon.
