Southampton announce 'partnership' with Chinese investor Gao Jisheng and his family

Gao reportedly invests £210m to buy an 80 per cent stake in the club as current owner promises 'business as usual'

Katharina Liebherr (R) will retain a 20 per cent stake in the club and chairman Ralph Krueger will continue in his role (Getty Images)

Southampton’s owners have announced a new partnership with Chinese investor Gao Jisheng and his family.

The businessman is reported to have bought 80 per cent of the south coast club, with previous majority shareholder Katharina Liebherr retaining 20 per cent.

Liebherr promised fans and employees “business as usual” in a statement announcing the new deal on Monday afternoon.

“Following extensive and fruitful work, we are entering into a partnership with the Gao family and I am excited about what we will achieve together.

“Today is the start of a new and exciting chapter for our club. Mr Jisheng Gao and his daughter, Mrs Nelly Gao, with whom I have built a close relationship, share our values and ambitions.

“As a team, we will strive to build upon the strong foundation that is in place towards sustainable long-term success.”

Liebherr added that the club’s current chairman Ralph Krueger had the full support of the new investors and would continue the “Southampton Way in the years ahead”.

Gao, who has been in talks with Southampton for nearly a year, said he was “honoured and humbled” to have a stake in the club.

“I am honoured and humbled to become a partner of Southampton Football Club alongside Katharina Liebherr, who, together with her father, has been such a great steward of the club, its growth and success,” the businessman said in a statement.

“Together, we have the passion and motivation to build on Southampton’s excellent progress in recent years as we look forward to an exciting next chapter for the club.”

Liebherr inherited Southampton following the death of her late father, Markus, in 2010 when the club was playing in League One.

After successive promotions in the following two seasons under the guidance of manager Nigel Adkins, the club have re-established themselves in the Premier League.

Gao has reportedly paid £210m for his share of the club and becomes the seventh Chinese investor to have a stake in an English league club.