Giorgio Chiellini invests six figures in women’s football, inspired by Angel City

Former Italian footballer Giorgio Chiellini is now an investor in Mercury/13, a women’s multi-club network that owns FC Como Women in Serie A, the group announced on Wednesday.

Chiellini had a storied career playing in Serie A and the Italian national team. The defender ended his career in December after two seasons with LAFC in Major League Soccer. His time in Los Angeles coincided with Angel City FC’s debut in the NWSL, which Chiellini said inspired him to invest in women’s soccer.

“After spending time in the United States, I was able to see the incredible progress that women’s football has made in this country and the potential it still has to be exploited in Europe,” Chiellini said in a statement. “I was inspired by the experience and am proud to be part of a project that aims to create new opportunities for female athletes and take the sport to the next level internationally.”

Mercury/13 described Chiellini’s investment as “significant,” but did not provide specific details beyond the six figures. For now, Chiellini will have no further formal involvement beyond the investment but will be available for informal consultations.

The former defender’s ties to Mercury/13 began in February, when he met their co-CEO, Victoire Cogevina Reynal, through their connection to the charity movement Common Goal, the group said. The executive was “thrilled” that Chiellini would join their group as an investor.

“His commitment reflects the growing recognition and support for women’s football at the highest level,” Cogevina Reynal said in a statement. “Mercury/13’s strategy of acquiring teams in European leagues will amplify our impact, and Giorgio’s involvement is a powerful endorsement of our vision and strategy.”

Chiellini’s investment in women’s soccer comes at a time when the sport is experiencing record interest and team valuations are skyrocketing. Last year, the NWSL struck a landmark media rights deal valued at roughly $60 million in total over multiple four-year partnerships. The San Diego Wave later sold at a record valuation of roughly $120 million, but Angel City outsold them with an expanded investment that included Willow Bay and Bob Iger at a valuation of $250 million.

Although the European market is still in its infancy compared to the United States, the record number of spectators and fans of women’s soccer suggests that the market’s potential remains untapped. The links between American and European women’s soccer are also growing, as evidenced by the friendly matches that have brought together teams such as Chelsea and Arsenal in the United States.

Mercury/13 was founded in 2023 with the aim of acquiring majority stakes in several professional women’s football clubs in Europe. At the time, the group, which includes former Aston Villa and Angel City sporting director Enki Aluko, had committed to investing $100 million in women’s football in Europe and Latin America. The group was close to acquiring a majority stake in English second-tier club Lewes FC, but those discussions ended in November.

In March, the group announced its first portfolio team, with the acquisition of a majority stake in FC Como Women in Serie A Femminile. The team has since unveiled a new brand identity and partnered with Nike, becoming what the group describes as the first official supplier of an independent women’s club in Serie A.

Chiellini’s 22-year career spanned multiple clubs, where he won 27 titles in total. He is best known for his time at Juventus, where he played for nearly 18 years, winning nine consecutive Serie A titles from 2011 to 2020. With the national team, Chiellini helped Italy win the 2020 European Championship and was named Defender of the Tournament. During his time in Los Angeles, Chiellini reached the MLS Cup final twice, lifting the trophy in his first season in the league.

It didn’t take long for Chiellini to return to football after retiring.

In January, LAFC announced that he would remain with the club as a player development coach, working closely with the coaching staff to help develop first-team players. Last week, another of Chiellini’s former clubs, Juventus, announced that the defender would also return to their ranks, this time in an executive role, as head of institutional football relations.

“Chiellini never really left the Bianconeri – his heart, soul and values ​​have always remained linked to the club, on and off the pitch,” the club said on September 16.

(Top photo: Shaun Clark/Getty Images)