Atlético Madrid is now majority-owned by the U.S.-based investment vehicle Apollo Sports Capital (ASC) , which has acquired a controlling stake of a little over half of the club’s shares, while the long‑time Spanish owners remain as minority shareholders and continue to run the club day to day.

Who owns Atlético Madrid right now?

  • The majority owner is Apollo Sports Capital (ASC), a global sports investment arm linked to Apollo, a large U.S. asset manager.
  • ASC has agreed to acquire around 51–55% of Atlético Madrid’s shares, making it the controlling shareholder once the deal is fully closed (expected in early 2026).
  • The long‑standing Spanish power figures, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín (CEO) and Enrique Cerezo (president), keep their roles and remain minority shareholders , along with Quantum Pacific Group and funds managed by Ares Management.

So, in practical terms:

Financial control and majority equity = Apollo Sports Capital
Football tradition and day‑to‑day leadership = Gil Marín, Cerezo and existing partners

Quick background: How did this change happen?

For nearly four decades, Atlético was effectively controlled by the Gil family , with Miguel Ángel Gil Marín as the key figure, and Enrique Cerezo as club president. As modern football finances escalated, the club increasingly leaned on outside investors, like Quantum Pacific and Ares funds, to stay competitive.

In late 2025 , Atlético announced a landmark agreement:

  1. Apollo Sports Capital would invest heavily and become the new majority shareholder.
  2. Existing investors would reduce their stakes but stay on as partners.
  1. The transaction is structured so that control shifts, but continuity in leadership and sporting project is preserved.

This move marks the first time in about 38 years that the club is no longer primarily controlled by the Gil family.

Why did Apollo Sports Capital buy Atlético?

Several motives stand out:

  • Big‑club status : Atlético is a consistent Champions League‑level side, one of Spain’s top three clubs, with global visibility and a strong fanbase.
  • Infrastructure & real estate: Part of the attraction is the long‑term development around the Cívitas Metropolitano area and the broader “City of Sport” or urban project, which includes new entertainment and sports facilities.
  • Flagship football asset : ASC is positioning Atlético as its flagship equity investment in football , rather than just one club in a multi‑team portfolio.

In short, Atlético offers both a serious football project and a large urban‑development play, which fits Apollo’s mix of sports, media and real‑estate interests.

Who are the key people behind Apollo Sports Capital?

While the “owner” in a legal sense is a fund structure, there are recognizable people leading it:

  • Al Tylis – CEO of Apollo Sports Capital, with prior experience owning Club Necaxa and other sports assets.
  • Rob Givone & Lee Solomon – co‑portfolio managers.
  • Sam Porter – Chief Strategy Officer, with a background in sports investment strategy.

These figures drive the investment and strategic decisions for ASC, meaning they are the real decision‑makers behind Atlético Madrid’s majority ownership, even though the club’s public faces in Madrid remain Gil Marín and Cerezo.

What about the old owners and the wider “Atlético family”?

The deal doesn’t erase the old ownership ecosystem; it reshapes it.

  • Miguel Ángel Gil Marín – continues as CEO and remains a shareholder.
  • Enrique Cerezo – continues as club president and shareholder.
  • Quantum Pacific Group & Ares Management funds – keep minority stakes.
  • Apollo Sports Capital also becomes the majority owner of affiliated clubs Atlético de San Luis (Mexico) and Atlético Ottawa (Canada) through the same transaction.

So, if you’re asking “who owns Atlético Madrid?” today, the concise answer is:

Majority owner: Apollo Sports Capital (U.S. investment firm)
Minority owners & local power: Gil Marín, Cerezo, Quantum Pacific, Ares funds

Mini FAQ (for forum‑style debates)

Q: Is Atlético Madrid now an “American‑owned club”?

  • Functionally, yes: the controlling stake is in the hands of a U.S. investment fund, Apollo Sports Capital.
  • Culturally and operationally, however, the club still has Spanish leadership on the ground (Gil Marín, Cerezo, and the Madrid‑based institutional structure).

Q: Did the Gil family completely sell out?

  • No. They reduced their stake but stayed on as shareholders and leaders , which was a key part of the deal design.

Q: Will this change how Atlético plays or their identity?

  • The aim, publicly, is to provide more capital to keep Atlético competitive and fund infrastructure, while preserving the club’s tradition and brand.
  • In the short term, fans are more likely to notice impacts in spending power and facilities than in an immediate identity shift on the pitch.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.