Global Sports

Targeted Acquisitions

Acquire underperforming or undervalued sports assets globally where Sharia-compliant investment structures can be fully applied.

Platform for Innovation

Transform each sports team into a platform for scaling breakthrough innovations across AI, fintech, medtech, climate tech, digital, and sports technologies.

Sustainable Value Creation

Drive operational excellence, digital engagement, community outreach, and commercial growth while maintaining adherence to Sharia values.

Long-Term Growth

Focus on mid- to long-term value uplift (7–10 years) through sustainable strategies rather than short-term speculation.

Integrity

Full compliance with Islamic finance principles and ethical investing standards.

Innovation

Relentless pursuit of transformational technologies to future-proof investments.

Sustainability

Commitment to environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

Community

Empowering local communities through sport, education, and health initiatives.

Transparency

Ensuring clear, open, and honest communication in all financial and operational practices.

Excellence

Delivering consistently superior financial and social returns.

SAM CHRISTIAN

Managing Partner

Sam has over 25 years of experience in the financial services sector having started her career with Nomura International progressing to Assistant Vice President within the Fixed Income division. This was then followed with a move to Lehman Brothers as Vice President, Investment Banking. Sam then joined a leading London based Structured Credit Asset Management firm where she helped to grow the business from its start-up phase, leaving after seven years as Managing Director. Sam joined Jade Merchant Bank in October 2014 as Chief Operating Officer and was then appointed to Chief Executive Officer in July 2017. During this time, Sam managed the successful completion of over GBP 500m of UK commercial real estate transactions on behalf GCC investors including Family Offices, Listed and Financial Institutions and UHNWIs. Prior to her financial services career, Sam was commissioned as a British Army Captain having graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1997. During her time in service, she served with a number of Regiments including roles with the Infantry and the Royal Engineers. Sam holds a BSc (Hons) in Special Psychology. She has a strong interest in education and serves as a Governor at Dauntsey’s, a leading Wiltshire independent school, where she is chair of the audit and risk committee.

SAMIR CERIC

Managing Partner

Samir Ceric, investor, entrepreneur, senior executive, mentor, philanthropist, public speaker; an influential figure in sports investment, tech and blockchain, recognised for his pioneering role in digitalising the sports industry. Ceric, who is involved in a number of sports tech companies as an investor, board members or advisor, has an extensive expertise on the evolving intersection of sports and technology.

Samir has championed the role of technology in sport across a broad array of areas, from deeper fan engagement powered by blockchain to climate tech solutions to drive sustainability for sports properties. Samir’s career has been driven by a passion for sports that extends beyond business; for him, sports are a way of life, a belief deeply woven into his work.

With a background as a former elite athlete and football club chairman, Ceric brings a wealth of knowledge and a practical understanding of sports dynamics. His dedication to connecting traditional sports with cutting-edge technology has led him to advocate for the adoption of digital innovations, such as blockchain and AI, within the sports sector.

LINDI NGWENYA

Managing Partner

Lindi Ngwenya is the Founder and Managing Director of U.K.-based, Sisu Sports Management Ltd. The company’s mission is to support the development of the football ecosystem for talent, clubs, leagues and federations in underserved markets such as women’s football and many parts of Africa.

Sisu Sports Management leverages technology to accelerate the opportunities for stakeholders in the areas of commercial, performance and recruitment, an example of which is their Uburu Africa platform matching football talent directly to sports scholarships in the USA. Lindi obtained a Chemical Engineering Masters Degree from Cambridge University and subsequently attended The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where she commissioned as an officer in The Corps of Royal Engineers. This was followed by over a decade working in the London financial markets as a bonds and credit derivatives trader before establishing Sisu in 2013.

SASHA RYAZANTSEV

Advisor

With over thirty years of experience in finance and football, Sasha Ryazantsev brings a unique perspective to the table.

Ryazantsev spent over a decade in the City of London as a senior banker followed by a move to the Board of Everton Football Club in 2016, and he is currently the CFO Advisor of Burnley Football Club. Ryazantsev is a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and holds a Masters in Finance degree from the London Business School. He has also completed the Business of Entertainment, Media and Sport programme at Harvard Business School.

MASSIMO MARINELLI

Advisor

Massimo Marinelli is an experienced investor, operator, and advisor across the sports, media, and entertainment sectors. He is Founder and Managing Partner of Berkida Ventures and serves as Operating Partner at Corrum Capital and Senior Advisor to 49ers Enterprises.

He was previously CEO of Aser Ventures and a Board Member of Leeds United, leading investments and operations across assets including Eleven Sports (now part of DAZN), Creed Media, and Neo Studios. Earlier, he spent 15 years in investment banking, most recently as Managing Director and Head of EMEA Media & Internet at UBS. Massimo is also a Governor of Channing School and Chairman of the Kinetic Foundation.

EMERIC HUDAULT

Advisor

Emeric joined Macquarie’s Sports & Entertainment team in April 2025 from Chinese conglomerate Fosun where he was in charge of the sport investment portfolio including controlling stakes in EPL team Wolverhampton Wanderers, esports squads in the USA, Europe and China, a music label, a video game publisher and a sportwear company.

Previously he spent 15 years in banking providing acquisition finance solutions to private equity clients including CVC, Bain Capital KKR…. and arranging sub investment grade debt facilities and bonds for large corporates, before founding a captive private credit investment platform for the insurance division of Fosun. Emeric graduated from EDHEC Business School in France.

Peter Trembling

Advisor

Peter Trembling has operated across the football world for almost 30-years and worked with many of top clubs across Europe whilst earning a stellar reputation along the way. He is currently Co-Founder and CEO of Waiv Global, a Visa partner, where he is developing a unique and highly profitable holistic payments platform for Chelse's and Manchester City's global fanbase as well as with similar high profile rights holders in the USA. In addition through his own consultancy business he, with a US partner, is acting exclusively for a buyer on a proposed purchase of Tottenham Hotspur. He was formerly International Account Director at American Express, Head of Sport & SVP at MBNA (now Bank of America), Chief Commercial Officer at Everton FC, and the Chairman & Owner of Notts County FC. Peter has worked on numerous commercial deals across the sports world with globally recognised brands in over 30-countries. He too has advised on many sales/purchases of football clubs where his relationship with the C-suite of clubs and leagues has been pivotal is navigating through the many issues around administration, compliance, regulatory etc. Peter lives in Derby, England where he is a lifelong supporter of Derby County, a coach to a local girls football team and only recently hung up his boots having played amateur and veterans football all his adult life.

PAUL SMITH

Advisor

Paul is a seasoned sports executive with 40 years of experience on every continent, across multiple sports, specialising in football. He has represented the international football federations of FIFA, UEFA, AFC, CAF, Concacaf and Conmebol plus the IOC and IAAF, the national football governing bodies and leagues of England, China, Korea, Thailand, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Russia and USA and has held senior executive positions with Manchester United and Chelsea FC, where he was CEO.

Paul’s achievements include introducing the pre-tournament concept with Euro 95, designing the Team England sponsorship programme and being a co-architect of the English Premier League. His skill-set includes market research, strategic planning, product design, licensing, sponsor packaging/sales/servicing, media strategy & sales and event staging.

He has been an Executive VP at sports agency ISL and Head of the Worldwide Football Division at sports agency IMG. Currently he runs Halo Football, which advises professional clubs via its Club Doctor analytics services on improving business performance as well as acting as a search agent and broker for club investments, acquisitions and sales

Richard Holmes

Sustainibility

Rich Holmes is a leading voice in football, sustainability, and social impact, with 15+ years’ experience from grassroots to global campaigns.

Founder of Final Third, he has worked with over 100 sports organisations, including Premier League and EFL clubs, delivering award-winning initiatives recognised by BASIS and the EFL.

A co-founder of the Green Football campaign, Rich is an experienced speaker, strategist, and educator whose work spans eight countries.
An MBA graduate with Distinction, he also serves as a Trustee for environmental and social charities, helping clubs and investors embed purpose, resilience, and fan engagement into their long-term growth.

Amir Ali OBE

Governance

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management, Amir sits on both CICM’s Think Tank and Technical Committee. CICM overseas and is responsible for £4 Trillion of Trade Debt in the UK and abroad. He also sits on the Law Advisory Boards of several Universities and has over four decades of experience in both the Legal and Enforcement Sectors within the UK.

Immediate past Chairman of the Civil Court Users Association, the largest lobbying organisation of its kind for Civil Lawyers and Past President of The Institute of Paralegals.

Amir was named in The New Year’s Honours List 2022 and was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen for “Services to Court Users and the Law.”

Latterly Amir has been assisting Ministry’s of Justice, globally wishing to transform their courts to incorporate On-line Dispute Resolution (ODR), or Digital Courts and has a keen interest in Mediation, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution in equal measure.

Dr. Osama Al Dereai

Scholar

Dr. Osama Al Dereai is a distinguished Shariah scholar with extensive experience in teaching, consulting, and research in the field of Islamic finance. He earned his bachelor’s degree in the Science of Hadith from the prestigious Islamic University of Madinah. He went on to obtain a master’s degree from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and later received his Ph.D. in Islamic transactions from the University of Malaya. Dr. Al Dereai serves as a Shariah board member for several prominent financial institutions, including the Dukhan Bank Group Q.P.S.C., which encompasses First Finance Company and The First Investor, among others. He also sits on the Shariah board of Barwa Real Estate Group Q.P.S.C., Asian Islamic Investment Management Sdn. Bhd., and other institutions. In addition, he is the Managing Director and CEO of Bait Al-Mashura Finance Consultations in Qatar, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Bait Al-Mashura Journal, and Vice Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the Doha Islamic Finance Conference. He has served as a lecturer at IIUM Malaysia and as a visiting lecturer at Qatar University. Dr. Al Dereai is also a highly regarded expert trainer in Islamic banking and finance.