Alexandre Pato to Join Northampton Town's Boardroom

Alexandre Pato is set to step back into English football – 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 final stages of the transaction.

In a statement, Northampton said they expect to be “in a position to confirm completion of the process” next week, signalling that the Cobblers are close to ushering in a new era of investment.

Chairman Kelvin Thomas acknowledged the complexity of the deal but welcomed the progress.

“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,” he said.

The mood was matched on the investors’ side. Joao Xavier, founding partner at Sports Alpha Capital, underlined the significance of the latest step.

“We are very happy to have reached formal agreements. 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,” he said.

SAC are not strangers to the English lower leagues. Earlier this year they held talks over a potential takeover of Colchester United, only to walk away after initial discussions. This time, the talks have advanced to formal agreement and regulatory approval, with only completion left to tick off.

Pato is listed by SAC as one of its investors, alongside Gemcorp Capital, a London-based independent investment management firm. The size of SAC’s proposed shareholding in Northampton has not been disclosed, leaving questions over the exact level of influence the consortium will wield once the deal is finalised.

For Pato, 37, it marks a notable move into club investment barely a year after he retired from playing. The Brazilian made his name during a five-and-a-half-year spell at AC Milan, scoring 63 goals in 150 matches and lifting the Serie A title in the 2010-11 season before later spells, including a brief stint at Chelsea.

Now his next chapter could unfold in League Two, with Northampton Town waiting for the paperwork to turn a high-profile name on the pitch into a stakeholder off it.