Alexandre Pato's Return to English Football as Investor in Northampton Town

Alexandre Pato is set for a return to English football – this time in the boardroom.

Northampton Town have announced they have reached agreement with a consortium that includes the former AC Milan, Chelsea and Brazil forward over a proposed shareholding acquisition in the League Two club.

The group, Sports Alpha Capital (SAC), had its proposed deal approved by both the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and the English Football League (EFL) earlier this month, clearing the way for the move.

In a statement, Northampton said they expect to be “in a position to confirm completion of the process” next week, signalling that only the final formalities now stand between SAC and their stake in the Cobblers.

Chairman Kelvin Thomas acknowledged the drawn-out nature of the talks but underlined the club’s excitement at the impending change.

“Football club transactions always have many moving parts and often take a little longer than you would hope, but we are thrilled to be moving forward,” he said.

The sense of progress was echoed by SAC founding partner Joao Xavier, who confirmed that the consortium has now tied up the key agreements.

“We are very happy to have reached formal agreements. Obviously obtaining IFR and EFL approvals was a big step, but this is also a very important milestone, and we look forward to closing next week,” Xavier said.

SAC are no strangers to the lower-league landscape. They held talks earlier this year over a potential takeover of Colchester United but chose to walk away after initial discussions, turning their attention instead to Northampton.

Pato is listed by SAC as one of its investors, alongside Gemcorp Capital, a London-based independent investment management firm. The exact size of SAC’s proposed shareholding in Northampton has not been disclosed.

For Pato, 37, it marks a notable shift in a career that moved from the pitch to the boardroom after his retirement last year. The Brazilian built his reputation during a prolific five-and-a-half-year spell at AC Milan, scoring 63 goals in 150 games and lifting the Serie A title in the 2010-11 season.

Now, instead of chasing through balls, he is backing a club fighting for progress in League Two. The next week will reveal just how big a role he and SAC will play in shaping Northampton Town’s future.