San Diego FC (SDFC) has announced the addition of former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata as a partner in its ownership group.
This makes the World Cup winner the first active international soccer player to hold an ownership stake in Major League Soccer (MLS). Mata, 36, is also only the second international player to be involved in MLS ownership after David Beckham, who has a stake in co-owner of Inter Miami. Argentina great Lionel Messi is currently playing for Miami, but as part of the deal he signed last year will have an ownership stake in the team once he stops playing.
“Joining San Diego FC as a partner is an exciting opportunity to help build something truly special in a city and league that are experiencing incredible growth,” said Mata, who also invests in Formula 1 team Alpine Racing Ltd. “I look forward to contributing my experience and passion for the game and working alongside everyone here to build a club that inspires both on and off the pitch.”
This is not Mata’s first involvement with SDFC, as his humanitarian Common Goal initiative has been partnered with the Right to Dream (RTD) organisation, run by team owner Sir Mohamed Mansour, since 2018.
The Common Goal initiative, founded in 2017, asks all members (including 146 football players) to pledge at least 1 per cent of their salary to social causes relating to football, and shares the wider goals of Mansour’s RTD, founded in 1999, driving change on and off the pitch from their five academies worldwide.
“We are absolutely delighted that Juan Mata has joined the club as a partner,” said SDFC chairman Mansour. “He shares our values of wanting to use football to deliver long-term social impact and change.”
Part of Spain’s golden generation that won the 2010 World Cup, Mata’s career honours include numerous domestic titles in Spain, England, Turkey and Japan.
“Juan embodies excellence and purpose in everything he does,” added SDFC CEO Tom Penn. “His passion for using football as a force for good resonates deeply with our vision for our SDFC and our community, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome him to our club.”
Mata signed for Australian side Western Sydney Wanderers in September and has featured in all four of their 2024-25 A-League matches.
San Diego’s ownership group led by Mansour was awarded MLS expansion rights in May 2023 and the team will begin competing in the league in the 2025 season, which starts in February.
(Top photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
