City Football Group sells Yokohama F Marinos stake to Nissan

City Football Group has transferred its entire minority shareholding in Yokohama F Marinos to Nissan, leaving the Japanese carmaker as sole owner of the J1 League club.Financial terms and the size of CFG’s former stake were not disclosed. Yokohama will remain a partner club within the group’s network despite the ownership change.Yokohama F Marinos said: “CFG has provided wide-ranging support for our club’s management and operations as a shareholder to date. Moving forward, Yokohama F Marinos and CFG will continue their relationship as partner clubs.“We will continue to work closely with CFG to strengthen the top team, while also contributing to the growth of the club’s partnerships and sponsorships.”The retained partnership allows Yokohama to continue accessing parts of CFG’s football, commercial and operational network without the group holding equity in the club.Nissan founded the team as a works club during the 1970s and will now take full ownership as Yokohama seek to strengthen their management structure and financial position.Yokohama said they will work to broaden their shareholder base over the medium to long term, suggesting Nissan’s sole ownership may serve as a transitional arrangement rather than a permanent structure.The transaction follows the end of Nissan’s 11-year global sponsorship agreement with CFG six months ago. The carmaker reportedly allowed the partnership to expire as part of wider cost reductions.CFG’s exit is also its second disposal since December 2025, when the group sold its majority interest in Indian Super League side Mumbai City.The two transactions indicate a more selective approach to a multi-club portfolio assembled across Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia.CFG was established around Manchester City in 2013 before expanding through acquisitions and strategic investments in clubs including New York City, Melbourne City, Girona and Bahia.The model gives clubs access to shared recruitment, data, coaching and commercial resources while allowing CFG to develop players and partnerships across several markets.Retaining Yokohama as a partner suggests CFG sees continuing strategic value in Japan even without an ownership position.The arrangement also reduces capital and governance obligations while preserving cooperation around first-team performance, sponsorship and broader commercial development.CFG is majority owned by Sheikh Mansour, with US technology investment firm Silver Lake holding a minority position.The Yokohama sale leaves Nissan responsible for the club’s ownership and funding while both parties determine how the non-equity partnership will operate within CFG’s increasingly streamlined network.