Carlos Vela has become one of three new investors to acquire a minority stake in Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), according to a league source. The move further deepens the longtime forward’s ties to the club he helped bring to prominence in Major League Soccer.
Details of the transaction, including the size of Vela’s stake and financial terms, were not disclosed. The source indicated that Vela is part of a small group of new minority investors, signaling a reshaping of a portion of the club’s ownership structure. As part of the shift, Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai is among those selling his interest in LAFC, reducing his role in the MLS side’s investor group.
Vela’s transition into the ownership ranks marks a notable development for both the player and the club. Since LAFC’s launch in MLS, Vela has been one of the organization’s defining figures, long serving as the face of the team on the field. His move into an investment role reflects a broader trend in North American sports in which influential players deepen their involvement with clubs beyond their playing careers.
The addition of Vela and other new minority investors comes amid ongoing evolution in MLS club ownership, where investor groups often feature a mix of local business leaders, global sports figures, and high-profile executives from other industries. While specific governance changes associated with these new stakes were not specified, minority positions typically involve participation in certain strategic and commercial discussions without day-to-day operational control.
Tsai’s partial exit from LAFC continues the pattern of shifting portfolios among sports owners who hold interests in multiple franchises across different leagues. The decision to sell down or relinquish a share in one team can reflect changing business priorities or a desire to reallocate resources elsewhere. No additional information was available on the identities of the other new minority investors, the precise percentage of the club changing hands, or the timeline of the transaction.
For LAFC supporters, Vela’s investment underscores the strength of the connection between the player and the club. It ties one of the most prominent figures in LAFC’s history more closely to its long-term direction, even as the ownership slate adjusts with the departure of Tsai and other outgoing investors.
