Alexandre Pato's consortium wins regulatory approval to take over Northampton Town

Alexandre Pato, the former AC Milan, Chelsea and Brazil forward, is on the verge of taking over League Two side Northampton Town after his investment consortium, Sports Alpha Capital (SAC), received regulatory approval for a proposed shareholding acquisition of the club.

Northampton confirmed in an official statement that both the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and the English Football League (EFL) have cleared the deal, describing the process as “detailed and rigorous.” The exact size of SAC’s stake and the full financial terms will only be disclosed once the transaction is formally completed.

Pato, 37, who retired from professional football three years ago, is among the principal investors in the London-based consortium. Gemcorp Capital, an independent investment management firm, is also listed as part of the SAC group. The move comes months after Pato withdrew from a separate takeover attempt at fellow League Two club Colchester United.

Northampton chairman Kelvin Thomas welcomed the milestone, saying the dual regulatory sign-off “should provide supporters and stakeholders with further confidence in the proposed investment and the foundations being put in place for the club’s future.” He added that several members of the consortium have already visited the club and attended matches, and noted that “with significant Brazilian representation within the group we also hope they might bring a little Brazilian excitement and flair with them.”

The timing is significant for a club in real difficulty. Northampton were relegated from League One at the end of last season after finishing bottom, and have yet to record a single win in the 2026-27 campaign. Thomas acknowledged the fans’ patience throughout the process and said the remaining documentation would now be finalised ahead of a formal completion announcement.

Pato won 27 caps for Brazil during a career that also included spells at Corinthians, Villarreal and São Paulo. His move into club ownership marks a new chapter in his involvement with the game.