Former Italian footballer Giorgio Chiellini is now an investor with Mercury/13, a women’s multi-club network that owns FC Como Women in Serie A, the group announced Wednesday.
Chiellini had a storied career playing in Serie A and for the Italian national team. The defender ended his career in December, after two final seasons with LAFC in Major League Soccer. His time in Los Angeles coincided with Angel City FC’s debut in the NWSL, which Chiellini said inspired him to invest in the women’s game.
“After spending time in the U.S., I saw the incredible strides women’s football is making there and how much potential it still has to unlock in Europe,” Chiellini said in a statement. “That experience inspired me, and I’m proud to be part of a project that’s all about creating new opportunities for female athletes and taking the sport to the next level internationally.”
Mercury/13 described Chiellini’s investment as “significant,” but did not share specific details beyond being in the six figures. Currently, Chiellini won’t have any other formal involvement beyond the investment but will be available for informal consultations.
The former defender’s ties to Mercury/13 began in February, when he met their co-CEO, Victoire Cogevina Reynal, through their connection to the charitable movement, Common Goal, the group said. The executive was “thrilled” for Chiellini to join their group as an investor.
“His commitment reflects the increasing recognition and support for women’s football at the highest levels,” Cogevina Reynal said in a statement. “Mercury/13’s strategy of acquiring teams across European leagues will amplify our impact, and Giorgio’s involvement is a powerful endorsement of our vision and strategy.”
Chiellini’s investment in women’s soccer comes at a time when the sport is experiencing record levels of interest, and valuations for teams are skyrocketing. Last year, the NWSL secured a historic media rights deal, valued at about $60 million combined over multiple four-year partnerships. San Diego Wave was later sold at a record valuation of about $120 million, only for Angel City to surpass them with an expanded investment that included Willow Bay and Bob Iger at a valuation of $250 million.
While the market in Europe may still be in its infancy by financial comparison to the U.S., record attendance and interest suggest the market’s potential remains untapped. There are also growing ties between American and European women’s soccer, as seen with the series of friendlies that brought teams like Chelsea and Arsenal to the U.S.
Mercury/13 was founded in 2023 with the goal of acquiring controlling stakes in multiple professional women’s soccer clubs across Europe. At the time, the group, which includes former Aston Villa and Angel City sporting director Enki Aluko, committed to investing $100 million in women’s soccer across Europe and Latin America. The group was close to acquiring a majority stake in Lewes FC, a second-division English club, but those conversations dissolved in November.
In March, the group announced its first portfolio team, with the acquisition of a controlling stake in FC Como Women in Serie A Femminile. The team has since unveiled a new brand identity and partnered with Nike, becoming what the group described as the first official supplier for an independent women’s club in Serie A.
Chiellini’s 22-year career spanned several clubs, where he collectively earned 27 titles. He is best known for his time at Juventus, where he was for nearly 18 years, earning nine consecutive Serie A titles from 2011 and 2020. With the national team, Chiellini helped Italy win the 2020 European Championship and was named defender of the tournament. While in Los Angeles, Chiellini twice reached the MLS Cup finals, lifting the trophy in his debutant season in the league.
It didn’t take long for Chiellini to return to soccer after retiring.
In January, LAFC announced he would remain with the club as a Player Development Coach, working closely with the coaching staff to assist in first-team player development. Last week, another one of Chiellini’s former clubs, Juventus, announced the defender would also return to their ranks, this time in an executive role, serving as head of soccer institutional relations.
“Chiellini never truly left the Bianconeri – his heart, soul and values have always remained connected to the club, both on and off the field,” the club said on Sept. 16.
(Top photo: Shaun Clark / Getty Images)
