Sixth Street has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Sunderland AFC Women, marking its first entry into UK football and reinforcing private equity’s growing focus on women’s sport.

The investment is being made through Bay Collective, the firm’s multi-club ownership platform dedicated to women’s football. The transaction adds Sunderland AFC Women as the second club in the platform, alongside Bay FC in the US.

Moreover, the deal positions Sixth Street to expand its footprint across global sports assets, building on existing partnerships with leading franchises including FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, the San Francisco Giants, and the Boston Celtics. Sunderland AFC will retain a minority stake in the women’s team.

The transaction underscores rising institutional confidence in the commercial trajectory of women’s sport. Sixth Street co-founder and CEO Alan Waxman has previously said that “professional women’s teams to become national and global consumer brands.”

In addition, the investment reflects a broader trend of capital flowing into women’s football, as investors seek exposure to a segment with increasing audience engagement and commercialisation potential. Recent developments in the market, including majority stake sales in other UK clubs, highlight the accelerating pace of deal activity.

Consequently, Sixth Street’s move signals continued private equity interest in scaling women’s sports platforms globally, with Bay Collective positioned as a vehicle to consolidate and grow assets across key markets.

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