Former Brazil star completes takeover of Northampton Town

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FT Desk

Former Brazil star Alexandre Pato has led a consortium to complete a takeover of League Two side Northampton Town.

The Cobblers won promotion to League One in 2020 after beating Exeter City 4-0 in the play-off final, but their stay in the third tier lasted only one season as they were relegated in 2021. They then came close to promotion again in 2022 before finally returning to League One in 2023, finishing third in League Two.

Since then, Northampton have faced another difficult period. They finished 14th in League One in 2023-24, before narrowly avoiding relegation in 2024-25. The following season proved tougher, with the club eventually dropping back into League Two in 2026.

The man looking to change the club's fortunes is former Chelsea and Milan forward Pato, who is part of Sports Alpha Capital, the consortium that came close to buying Colchester United last year.

🤝Welcome to Northampton, Sports Alpha Capital!#ShoeArmy 👞 pic.twitter.com/uEttT6EfFU

— Northampton Town (@ntfc) September 30, 2026

SAC will take a 70% shareholding in Northampton Town Ventures Limited - the company which owns the majority of shares in the League Two club.

Existing owners David Bower, Nigel Le Quesne and Kelvin Thomas will retain the other 30% of shares.

SAC's Joao Xavier and Tim Chamberlain will become co-chairmen, with Pato set to join the board as a director.

In a joint statement, Xavier and Chamberlain said they were "extremely proud to become custodians of a club with such a rich history, passionate supporter base and important place within its community".

"We have ambitious plans for Northampton Town, but ambition must go hand in hand with sustainability and an understanding of what the club means to the people of Northampton and Northamptonshire," the statement added.

"We want the club to continue to be a source of pride within its community and will work closely with the Community Trust, supporters, staff, partners and local stakeholders to ensure that relationship continues to grow.

"We are looking forward to spending much more time in Northampton, listening to supporters and working together to help the club realise its potential both on and off the pitch.

"This is the beginning of a long-term commitment from Sports Alpha Capital to Northampton Town Football Club, and we are incredibly excited about the journey ahead."

Once considered one of the best wonderkids in world football, Pato started his career at Internacional before a high-profile move to Milan where he was considered the heir apparent to his compatriot, Kaka.

He didn't hit the heights that were perhaps expected him and he ended up having a nomadic career that included spells at Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Chelsea, Villarreal, Tianjin Tianhai, Orlando City and Sao Paulo on two more occasions.

He retired in 2023.