Bay Collective confirms majority stake in Sunderland AFC Women

Sunderland Association Football Club have announced that Bay Collective, a multi-club ownership platform, has acquired a majority stake in their women’s division, Sunderland AFC Women, following approval from the Barclays Women’s Super League.

The partnership will see both work towards “strengthening player development, enhancing the matchday experience for fans, and investing in critical infrastructure, including the Academy of Light [Sunderland’s home ground], to build a world-class environment for women’s football for generations to come.”

Tom Burwell, Chief Executive Officer at Sunderland AFC, said:

“This is a significant and exciting step for our Club, and we are thrilled to partner with Bay Collective for the future of Sunderland Women. Bay Collective brings world-class expertise and a genuine belief in what this Club can become, and we look forward to what this partnership will deliver for our players, our Academy, and our fans.”

Kay Cossington, Chief Executive Officer, Bay Collective, commented:

“What drew us to Sunderland from the very beginning was the depth of its identity, the history, the Academy, the fans, and the incredible legacy this Club has built in English women’s football. Our ambition is to build this Club sustainably and thoughtfully, investing across every part of the organization from player development to infrastructure to the matchday experience so that the success we create here lasts well beyond any of us.”