Bristol City Women find new orbit with Mercury 13

US-based ownership group Mercury 13 has agreed a deal to acquire a significant majority stake in Bristol City Women.

The deal, which is subject to league approval, marks the group’s second acquisition in Europe after purchasing Italian side Como Women earlier in 2024. The Lansdown family, owners for the past three decades, will retain a minority stake.

Founded in 2023, Mercury 13 focuses exclusively on women’s football and aims to build a portfolio of clubs across Europe and South America. The group previously entered talks to acquire Lewes FC in 2023 before securing a controlling stake in Como a year later.

Bristol City Women were a founding member of the Women’s Super League (WSL) in 2011 and have twice competed in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, reaching the quarter-finals in 2014. After being promoted to the top flight for the 2023-2024 season, the team were subsequently relegated.

Victoire Cogevina Reynal, Co-founder of Mercury 13, said, “It is a special and important time for Mercury 13, with this acquisition will start proving how we can add value to the clubs in our portfolio.

“We had a year rebuilding Como women, and it’s been a great pilot, and now we couldn’t be more excited to extend it into other countries, other leagues, other audiences, as well, and continue making this vision a reality.”

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