Top Swiss side FC Basel on Wednesday bought a 26 percent stake in Chennai City, becoming the first foreign side to buy into an Indian football club.
Chennai, which has only been in existence in India's I-League for three years, did not give the value of a deal that will see Basel help create a youth football academy.
But the Times of India newspaper said the European Champions League regulars would invest about 20 million euros ($22 million).
Today we can announce, that FC Basel has acquired a minority stake of the Indian football club @ChennaiCityFC and will launch a close partnership with the club. More info here ???????? https://t.co/5x4Rw7cNcy #FCBasel1893 #zämmestark pic.twitter.com/OTMw3gvItS
— FC Basel 1893 ???????? (@FC_Basel_en) February 6, 2019
"The money which they will pump in will be focussed completely in the youth set up and on the infrastructure," Chennai co-owner Rohit Ramesh told AFP after the announcement of the deal in New Delhi.
"This is a game-changer for us. Getting a European football club investing money is something which opens doors for potentially other clubs to also come in and invest," he added.
The partnership includes creating a youth academy in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where Chennai is the main city, as well as soccer schools across the region.
Basel president Bernhard Burgener called the deal "historic" for Indian football and the Swiss club.