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American takeover of Ipswich completed

Gamechanger, the investment vehicle led by Los Angeles-based businessman Brett Johnson, have completed their takeover of Ipswich Town.

The League One club have been owned by British multi-millionaire Marcus Evans since December 2007, but the 57-year-old has sold all of his shares to the new group.

The Athletic understands Gamechanger are paying close to £30 million for the deal, but that includes them taking on the club debt.

Evans will wipe all of the debts he is owed, but will receive 5 per cent of Gamechanger in return.  Evans will also keep some development land at Portman Road.

Johnson is the founder and chairman of Fortuitous Partners, a sports investment fund, and Benevolent Capital Partners, a private equity firm with investments in manufacturing, property and sport.

In 2015, Johnson bought a minority stake in Arizona United, a new team in the USL Championship, American soccer’s second tier, and became the club’s co-chairman and president.

Within a year, the team had been rebranded as Phoenix Rising and the ownership group had swollen to include American DJ, songwriter and record producer Diplo; Pete Wentz, the bass player and lyricist from rock group Fall Out Boy; and several more investors.

Since then, Phoenix Rising have become one of the most successful teams in the USL and have moved into their own 10,000-seat stadium.

 

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