Podolski takes majority control of Górnik Zabrze

Lukas Podolski has become the majority shareholder of Górnik Zabrze after his company LP Holding GmbH bought the City of Zabrze’s stake, shifting the Ekstraklasa club from municipal control to private ownership led by a current player.The transaction was approved at an extraordinary city council session on May 20, with Podolski taking 86% of the shares and assuming effective control of the club’s strategic direction.Zabrze mayor Kamil Żbikowski said: “We had to do it, because as the City of Zabrze we were not able to ensure a better future for Górnik.”Żbikowski added: “A moment ago we managed to complete all the formalities, we signed the relevant documents. There will still be a procedure to register it, but in reality from today Lukas Podolski is the majority shareholder, the main owner of Górnik Zabrze.”Podolski has pitched the move as a governance reset as well as an investment, arguing that city halls should focus on public services and infrastructure rather than running professional football clubs.Podolski said: “I thank the mayor for keeping his word. We met a few times. He was the only person in the city who from the start said: as soon as I am mayor, selling Górnik will be at the top of the list, because the city should not manage the club.”The 39-year-old also played down titles and hierarchy as the project enters its next phase.Podolski said: “I don’t care what will be written on the business card. Whether it says owner, president or Lukas Podolski, it does not matter to me.”Górnik is one of the historic brands in Polish football, but municipal ownership has often limited speed of decision-making and access to capital, particularly when clubs need funding for squad investment, modernised commercial operations and infrastructure planning.Podolski’s takeover is expected to sharpen the club’s commercial posture, with scope to professionalise sponsorship sales, improve matchday yield and build longer-term planning around facilities and brand positioning.The club’s balance sheet remains a key issue and local reporting has put Górnik’s debts at tens of millions of zloty, meaning new ownership will be judged quickly on stabilisation as well as ambition.Player-led ownership brings obvious marketing upside, but it also raises practical questions around governance, conflict management and succession planning once Podolski’s playing career ends.The immediate operational focus is on ensuring the new shareholding structure is fully registered and then setting out a credible plan to address liabilities while maintaining competitiveness in the Ekstraklasa.