Broadsword Investment Management has acquired a majority stake in Powerleague, the UK’s largest five-a-side football operator, in a deal that will accelerate the company’s growth and diversification into new sports. 

Powerleague, founded in Paisley and currently operating 43 clubs across the UK with nine million annual customers, will retain its existing management team post-transaction. The business also manages over 250 third-party venues offering football and netball, and earlier this year announced plans to add padel tennis to nearly half of its sites.

Under Broadsword’s ownership, Powerleague plans to open 18 new padel clubs within existing sites, delivering 76 courts by 2026. The firm will continue investing in pitch regeneration and new football sites as part of a multi-sport growth strategy.

Christian Rose, CEO of Powerleague, said: “Partnering with Broadsword gives us the platform to accelerate our growth, invest in our clubs, and bring new sports like padel to communities across the UK. While football remains at the heart of everything we do, we’re proud to be evolving into a true multi-sport operator.”

Daniel Sennett, Co-Founder and CEO of Broadsword, added: “We look forward to supporting the excellent management team at Powerleague as they build on the success of this world-class small-sided football business and seize the significant opportunity to grow into padel.”

The acquisition reflects private equity’s growing interest in the UK sports and leisure sector, as investors target scalable platforms with strong customer bases and operational expansion potential.

Source: Insider

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