Monaco finds a savior: former NBA star takes control of the club
Jamal Mashburn leads a group of American investors set to take control of the French champions after submitting a bank guarantee of approximately 7 million euros. The club's budget will be reduced from over 38 million to 12.5 million euros.
Monaco is expected to receive approval to participate in the French league for the 2026/27 season following the completion of a rescue and ownership-transfer program led by former NBA star Jamal Mashburn. According to L’Équipe, the appeals office of the French Basketball Federation is expected to approve the new framework this Friday, barring any last-minute developments.
The French champions failed to receive approval on July 3 from the DNCCG, the body responsible for financial oversight in French basketball, after their initial economic guarantees were deemed insufficient. Since then, the club has been granted additional time to strengthen its financial plan and complete the documentation required for the takeover.
The key document submitted is a bank guarantee worth approximately 7 million euros. This guarantee is intended to demonstrate that the new ownership group is capable of financing the club’s operations in a stable manner and meeting the budget presented for the upcoming season.
Ownership of Monaco is expected to pass to Helen Holdings, an investment fund and American family office led by Mashburn. This move will end Alexei Fedorichev’s tenure as owner and the club’s main sponsor, as the Russian businessman has reportedly agreed to transfer his shares as part of the reorganization.
Mashburn is expected to be the central figure in the new project, while sporting director Oleksii Yefimov is expected to remain in his position to manage the transition. Helen Holdings has already made investments in the sports sector and arena projects in Europe, and in January 2026, it joined the Nextstage investment and operations platform as a partner.
The most significant change will be in the budget. After operating last season with a budget of over 38 million euros and one of the most expensive squads in European basketball, the new management has presented a projected budget of just 12.5 million euros.
This drastic cut will force the club to adopt a completely different professional model. Monaco has already lost several key players this summer amid economic uncertainty, and after five consecutive appearances in the EuroLeague playoffs, the team has been moved to the EuroCup competition.
The Principality of Monaco may also receive a share of ownership in the future and become more involved in the team's management. Reports indicate that the state provided the club with loans totaling over 16 million euros during the spring, which enabled it to complete the season.
Mashburn, 53, was the fourth overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft by Dallas. He played 12 seasons in the NBA for the Mavericks, Miami, Charlotte, and New Orleans, averaging 19.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game over his career.
