Alexandre Pato Joins Northampton Town Boardroom

Alexandre Pato is set to step into English football again – this time in the boardroom.

Northampton Town have confirmed they have reached agreement with a consortium that includes the former AC Milan, Chelsea and Brazil forward over a proposed shareholding acquisition in the League Two club.

The group, Sports Alpha Capital (SAC), had its proposed deal approved by both the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and the English Football League (EFL) earlier this month, clearing the way for the move.

The Cobblers say they expect to be “in a position to confirm completion of the process” next week, signalling that only the final formalities now stand between the club and a new era of investment.

“Football club transactions always have many moving parts and often take a little longer than you would hope, but we are thrilled to be moving forward,” said Northampton chairman Kelvin Thomas, welcoming the progress after months of work behind the scenes.

Joao Xavier, founding partner at Sports Alpha Capital, struck a similar tone. “We are very happy to have reached formal agreements,” he said. “Obviously obtaining IFR and EFL approvals was a big step, but this is also a very important milestone, and we look forward to closing next week.”

SAC have been circling the English lower leagues for some time. Earlier this year they held talks over a potential takeover of Colchester United, only to walk away after initial discussions. This time, the negotiations have gone the distance.

Pato is listed by SAC as one of its investors, alongside Gemcorp Capital, a London-based independent investment management firm. The exact size of SAC’s proposed shareholding in Northampton Town has not been disclosed.

For Pato, 37, it marks a striking shift into club ownership after hanging up his boots last year. The Brazilian is best remembered for a blistering spell at AC Milan, where he scored 63 goals in 150 games and lifted the Serie A title in the 2010-11 season.

Now his name is being tied to a very different challenge: helping drive a League Two club that dreams of climbing higher.