Alexandre Pato Joins Northampton Town Boardroom

Alexandre Pato is set to step into English football again – this time in the boardroom.

League Two side Northampton Town have announced they have reached agreement with a consortium that includes the former AC Milan, Chelsea and Brazil forward over a proposed shareholding acquisition in the club.

The group, Sports Alpha Capital (SAC), had its proposed deal approved by both the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and the English Football League (EFL) earlier this month, clearing the way for the investment to move towards completion.

In a statement, Northampton said they expect to be “in a position to confirm completion of the process” next week, signalling that only the final formalities remain.

“Football club transactions always have many moving parts and often take a little longer than you would hope, but we are thrilled to be moving forward,” said Cobblers chairman Kelvin Thomas, underlining the sense of relief that the drawn-out process is now close to its conclusion.

Joao Xavier, founding partner at Sports Alpha Capital, struck a similar tone. “We are very happy to have reached formal agreements. Obviously obtaining IFR and EFL approvals was a big step, but this is also a very important milestone, and we look forward to closing next week,” he said.

SAC had previously explored a move into the English lower leagues with Colchester United earlier this year, only to walk away after initial talks. This time, the consortium has pushed through to the brink of a deal, with Northampton poised to become their entry point into the EFL.

Pato is listed by SAC as one of its investors, alongside Gemcorp Capital, a London-based independent investment management firm. The precise size of SAC’s proposed shareholding in Northampton has not been disclosed, leaving questions over the exact scale of their influence once the deal is rubber-stamped.

For Pato, 37, the move marks a fresh chapter after hanging up his boots last year. The Brazilian is best remembered for his explosive emergence at AC Milan, where he scored 63 goals in 150 games across five and a half years and lifted the Serie A title in the 2010-11 season.

Now, instead of leading the line, he is preparing to help lead a club. Northampton Town, chasing progress in League Two, are about to find out what that blend of football fame and financial muscle can bring to Sixfields.