San Diego FC
Mohamed Mansour (Man Capital / Right to Dream) and Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation acquisition · 18 May 2023
- Seller
- Major League Soccer
- Stake acquired
- 100%
- Control
- Yes
- Reported consideration
- €463m
- Implied equity value
- —
- League
- MLS
- Country
- United States
- Confidence
- MEDIUM
Buyer profile: Mohamed Mansour / Man Capital and Sycuan consortium: clubs owned, where they buy next
Mohamed Mansour (Man Capital / Right to Dream) and Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation acquired 100% of San Diego FC from Major League Soccer, announced 18 May 2023.
Reported consideration was €463m.
- Announced
- 18 May 2023
- Closed
- 18 May 2023
- Stake after transaction
- 100%
- Status
- completed
Reported consideration
What the buyer reportedly paid for the stake
Implied 100% equity value
Calculated: consideration ÷ stake acquired
Reported club valuation
Enterprise value
Only shown when debt/cash near the transaction date is established
Debt assumed / restructured
Primary capital injection
Total announced investment commitment
Commitments are not purchase price and not valuation
Revenue
Wages
EBITDA
Net debt
Net income
MLS formally awarded its 30th franchise to San Diego on 18 May 2023, with Mohamed Mansour as controlling owner and the Sycuan Band as co-owner (MLS release, s1). The $500m figure is an expansion FEE paid to the league for a new franchise slot — reported consistently by Sportico, Forbes and Reuters from anonymous sources; MLS itself never disclosed it.
It is not an equity purchase price and no implied club valuation is derived from it. There are no pre-transaction financials because the club did not exist; it began play in 2025. Precise stake split between Mansour, Sycuan and minority partners (Machado, Termini, Vernon, Dickinson) is undisclosed. FX: USD→EUR 0.926. Franchise-model caveat: MLS/NWSL/Liga MX values are closed-league franchise prices (no relegation risk, league-controlled entry, single-entity revenue sharing in MLS) and are NOT comparable to European open-pyramid club prices, where sporting risk and player-trading economics drive value.
- MLS press release: Major League Soccer Awards Expansion Team to San Diego ↗Tier 2 · primary league
2023-05-18 — “MLS awarded its 30th team to San Diego; club owned by Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation; begins play 2025 at Snapdragon Stadium. Fee not stated.”
2023-05-16 — “MLS reached a $500 million agreement with Mansour and the Sycuan Band; record fee vs $325m Charlotte (2019); person familiar with details.”
- Forbes: MLS Awards 30th Club To San Diego ↗Tier 3 · media
2023-05-18 — “Group will pay a $500 million expansion fee according to a well-placed industry source.”
- Reuters: MLS awards expansion team to San Diego ↗Tier 3 · media
2023-05-18 — “Mansour shelled out a reported $500 million fee for the expansion franchise.”