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Former Spain international and World Cup winner Juan Mata has joined the ownership group of MLS expansion side San Diego FC, the club announced on Wednesday.
Mata, currently playing with Australian A-League Men side Western Sydney Wanderers, is the first active international soccer player to hold an ownership stake in an MLS team, and joins Inter Miami CF co-owner David Beckham as only the second international player to be involved in MLS ownership.
San Diego, which will begin play next season, is owned by Egyptian businessman and club chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour, with the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a Native American tribe whose reservation is located near El Cajon, California, also in the ownership group.
Mansour also owns Danish club FC Nordsjælland and the Right to Dream Academy, a soccer academy which has facilities in Ghana, Egypt, and Denmark.
“We are absolutely delighted that Juan Mata has joined the club as a partner,” said Mansour. “Juan has been an active and long-term supporter of Right to Dream, and he shares our values of wanting to use football to deliver long-term social impact and change.”
Mata, 36, founded the Common Goal initiative in 2017, pledging one percent of his salary to social causes. Common Goal is a partner of Right to Dream (RTD).
“Joining San Diego FC as a partner is an exciting opportunity to help build something truly special in a city and league that are experiencing incredible growth,” said Mata in a statement released by the team. “The commitment of both this Club and Right to Dream to community impact, excellence, and a vision for long-term success aligns perfectly with my own values. I look forward to contributing my experience and passion for the game and working alongside everyone here to build a Club that inspires both on and off the pitch.”
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