The board of directors of Santos Futebol Clube officially took a decisive step towards transforming its administrative model by signing a preliminary agreement with the group Saint Dominique Sports LLC. The negotiation establishes a period of exclusivity for the North American fund, preventing black and white managers from dealing with other interested parties while technical and financial evaluations are carried out at the facilities of Vila Belmiro and CT Rei Pelé.
This strategic movement, led by president Marcelo Teixeira, does not yet constitute the definitive sale of the football department, but it represents the most concrete progress of the current management towards the implementation of Signing the non-binding proposal allows investors to have access to the institution’s detailed numbers to confirm the viability of the business.
Santos Futebol Clube and COSUDEpic.twitter.com/RZg1r1AlEN
— Santos FC (@SantosFC)February 27, 2026
To ensure the security of the transaction, the São Paulo club will conduct a parallel investigation into the financial health and contribution capacity of the foreign group. XP Investimentos acts as financial advisor to Santos in this operation, offering technical support to validate the credentials of the fund that promises to inject billion-dollar resources into
The due diligence process, which involves the thorough audit of contracts and liabilities, should last up to three months. Durante this period, both parties will work to transform the letter of intent into a binding contract, which would legally obligate the completion of the purchase and sale of shares in the new sports entity.
Details of the financial structure and division of investments
The offer presented by Saint Dominique has a total estimated value of 2 billion reais, an amount that would position the agreement among the largest ever made in Brazilian football. The business structure was designed to resolve the club’s liabilities and, simultaneously, guarantee cash flow for the assembly of competitive squads.
The capital would be divided equally between debt payments and direct investment. Cerca of 1 billion reais would be allocated exclusively to repay the historical debt of Santos, while the other 1 billion reais would be invested in infrastructure and the football department over the next few years.
– Aporte direct amount of 1 billion reais for SAF capitalization and hiring.
– Assunção total debt valued at approximately 1 billion reais.
– Aquisição of 80% of the voting capital of the new company.
– Prazo of up to 90 days to complete the document audit.
Origin of capital and profile of the investor group
Saint Dominique Sports LLC, based in the Estados Unidos, is driven by resources from the Santo Domingo family, one of the most influential clans in the Colômbia. The family conglomerate has extensive experience in the media and sports sectors, controlling TV Caracol and maintaining a minority stake in Washington Commanders, an NFL (American football league) franchise. The management proposal for Santos differs from other models seen in Brasil, as it should not depend on central figures or “owners” who act as public spokespersons. The fund’s intention is to establish a professional administration led by market executives, maintaining the discretion that characterizes the founding family’s businesses in other sectors of the global economy, focusing on corporate results and operational efficiency.
Bureaucratic procedures and necessary statutory reform
For the transaction to progress from the non-binding phase to a definitive proposal, Santos needs to make profound changes to its internal legislation. The club’s current statute has restrictions that prevent the majority sale of football shares, requiring a broad reform that must be debated and voted on by the board members. The process is internally classified as complex and requires absolute transparency.
After eventual approval in Conselho Deliberativo, the project to create the SAF and the sale of shares will need to be subjected to review by the partners in Assembleia Geral Extraordinária. The board understands that clarity regarding the terms of the final contract will be essential to guarantee the support of the associative mass, historically zealous about the institution’s destiny.
Identity preservation and protection clauses
Despite the possible transfer of controlling interest to foreign hands, the preliminary agreement establishes strong clauses to protect the tradition of Santos Futebol Clube. The exclusivity contract already indicates that fundamental points in the club’s history are non-negotiable and cannot undergo changes under the command of the new managers, ensuring that the soul of the institution remains intact.
– Manutenção mandatory official name Santos Futebol Clube.
– Proibição changes to traditional colors and uniforms.
– Preservação of the official shield and historical symbols.
– The headquarters and game control remain in the city of Santos.
Next steps and technical visits
Representatives of the American fund should arrive at Brasil in the coming weeks to see in person the structures of Centro, Treinamento Rei Pelé and Vila Belmiro. The technical visit is part of the current infrastructure assessment schedule and will serve to support the international expansion plan of the Santos brand, aiming to modernize the facilities.
The in-depth analysis will seek to identify operational bottlenecks and opportunities for modernization in the base categories, a sector considered strategic by investors. Somente after validating all financial and physical data, the Saint Dominique group will decide to present the binding proposal, sealing the definitive commitment.
Impact on competitiveness and financial scenario
The association’s central objective, according to an official statement released by the club, is to accelerate the development of professional football and strengthen the team’s competitive performance in national and international tournaments. The board is betting that the injection of foreign capital will allow Santos to regain its financial leadership compared to rivals that have already adopted similar business management models.
In addition to investing in athletes, the project aims to improve the brand’s positioning in the global market, exploring the commercial potential of being the club that revealed Pelé and Neymar. The expectation is that the SAF will bring a more rigid governance structure, reducing the risks of uncontrolled debt and ensuring the club’s long-term sustainability, allowing for more ambitious sports planning.
Santos faced a challenging financial scenario in recent years, which led to accelerated talks for the creation of the SAF under the direction of Teixeira. The accumulated debt limited the club’s investment capacity in the football market, transforming the search for a strategic partner into a challenge of institutional survival and recovery of credibility.
The acceptance of the American offer comes at a time when the club is seeking to restructure itself to regain its place in the elite of Brazilian football. The president’s allies see the possibility of paying off 1 billion reais in immediate debts as the fastest way to clean up the accounts and allow the football department to work with a predictable and solid budget.
