Chinese businessman Gao Jisheng, president of Lander Sports Development, has bought 80 percent of Southampton's shares for 210 million pounds (272 million US dollars, 231 million euros), reports South China Morning Post.
Gao invested money from his personal fortune, not his company, to gain control of the club, in which hitherto owned company, Swiss Katharina Liebherr, will retain 20 percent of the remaining shares.
A Chinese fund had also offered to buy a majority share of the English club, although its offer was smaller and was surpassed by that of Gao, said the information from the Hong Kong newspaper.
The buyout had begun trading earlier this year, but was slowed by measures taken by the Chinese government to limit overseas acquisitions by large Chinese conglomerates, including giants like Anbang, HNA, Wanda or Fosun.
The Southampton is now on the list of English clubs in the hands of Chinese firms, alongside West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Birmingham City or Wolverhampton Wanderers (in addition, the country's Asian investors own 13 percent of Manchester City).
They have also multiplied their presence in other European leagues as the Italian, where Chinese firms own the Inter and Milan, or the Spanish, with control of historical clubs such as Espanyol or Granada, in addition to a shareholding in Atletico from Madrid.
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