Northampton Town has confirmed a significant step forward in its ownership structure by reaching an agreement with a consortium led by Alexandre Pato, the former forward of AC Milan, Chelsea, and the Brazil national team. This proposed shareholding acquisition in the League Two club has been approved by both the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and the English Football League (EFL) earlier this month.

In an official statement, the club expressed optimism about finalizing the deal, stating they expect to be "in a position to confirm completion of the process" next week. Kelvin Thomas, the chairman of Northampton, remarked, "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."

Joao Xavier, a founding partner at Sports Alpha Capital (SAC), emphasized the importance of obtaining the necessary approvals, calling it a "very important milestone" and expressing eagerness to close the deal next week.

SAC had previously explored a potential takeover of Colchester United earlier this year but opted out after initial discussions. Alongside Alexandre Pato, the consortium also includes Gemcorp Capital, a London-based independent investment management firm.

While the exact details of SAC's proposed shareholding in Northampton Town remain undisclosed, Pato, who retired last year, is celebrated for his remarkable tenure at AC Milan, where he netted 63 goals in 150 appearances and won the Serie A title in the 2010-11 season.