Marseille begin search for strategic partner as McCourt plans new investment phase

Olympique de Marseille have started a process to bring in new financial backing, with owner Frank McCourt saying the club need additional investment to compete consistently at the top of Ligue 1.McCourt said Marseille are seeking a “strategic partner” rather than a short-term cash injection, positioning the move as a step-change in the club’s business model after almost a decade under his ownership.McCourt added: “The next level and, hopefully, the highest level, will require additional investment. We want to find the right strategic partner to achieve this.”The owner’s comments come as Marseille attempt to stabilise their executive structure following the departure of president Pablo Longoria earlier this season, with McCourt also confirming the search for a new club leader is under way.McCourt said: “The process has indeed begun,” adding that he wants a president who understands France and Marseille and has the senior management experience to operate under the pressure that comes with the club’s profile.The investment push is tied to that governance reset, with Marseille signalling they want to professionalise decision-making and improve continuity after a period of churn in senior roles.  McCourt also confirmed that sporting director Mehdi Benatia will leave at the end of the season, with his notice period running until June, further reshaping the club’s operational set-up ahead of the summer window.McCourt said: “Medhi is an excellent sporting director. He will stay until the end of the season, and then it will be over. That is his wish, and that is what we have agreed upon.”Marseille’s next steps are likely to be closely watched across French football, where investor interest has increasingly focused on minority positions, structured capital injections and partnerships that bring commercial capabilities alongside funding.For Marseille, any deal would also be judged against PSG’s state-backed resources and the broader reality that Ligue 1 clubs are operating in a more constrained environment for central revenues and player trading cycles.McCourt has repeatedly argued that building a sustainable contender requires both stronger leadership and greater financial capacity, while maintaining that the club’s long-term trajectory has improved since he took over.  McCourt said: “When I look at where OM was when I bought it and where it is now, it’s night and day.”Marseille have not detailed a timetable, valuation expectations or the form of any transaction, but McCourt’s language suggests the club are preparing for a partner-led growth phase rather than an outright sale.