Kylian Mbappe is branching out in sport by investing in France's SailGP team (Image: Getty)
French football sensation Kylian Mbappe's company, Coalition Capital, has today announced its investment in the France SailGP Team. The star's 'Inspired by KM' (IBKM) foundation will also become the official charity partner of the French team, expanding its global influence and inspiring youngsters through the power of sport.
The Real Madrid ace is one of the biggest sporting stars on the planet, and is already looking to widen his portfolio and expand into other disciplines.
Reacting to the announcement, Mbappe said: "We are excited to be on board with this new adventure with the France SailGP Team, alongside Accor and other investors. I'm also proud that IBKM has the opportunity to engage more young people around the world through this relationship."
He added, "Through Inspired By KM, I want to reach out to young people around the world and give them the strength to believe in their dreams. With our "We Care for All program", we provide concrete support and hope to those who need it most. Together, we are building a future where every young person can write their own story and achieve excellence."
SailGP, founded in 2019 by five-time America's Cup winner Sir Russell Coutts and Oracle founder Larry Ellison, features 12 national teams competing in identical, high-speed 50-foot foiling catamarans.
The annual championship brings fans closer to the action than ever before, with close-to-shore stadium racing in iconic global destinations – including Saint-Tropez, France, on September 12-13.
SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts has expressed his excitement at the addition of Mbappe to the SailGP family as a partner and investor, stating, "We couldn't be more excited to welcome Kylian Mbappee into our growing SailGP family of partners and investors – he's undeniably one of the most influential athletes of our time, and an inspiration to sports fans across the globe."
This development comes amid a surge of growth for the international racing championship, boasting the entry of two fresh teams - Mubadala Brazil and [Red Bull](https://www.express.co.uk/latest/red-bull) Italy - along with other significant sales.
A cohort of investors, including Coalition Capital, now fully privately own and manage the France SailGP Team, steered by Quentin Delapierre, a French Olympian and America's Cup helmsman, alongside an exemplary assembly of French sailing virtuosos.
The management of the French outfit falls under K-Challenge - a pioneering sport-tech collective uniting the crème de la crème of France's experts in international sailing, co-led by CEOs Bruno Dubois and Stephan Kandler. Accor, a leading hospitality titan, was instrumental in forging this synergy, backing the Global SailGP league, the France SailGP team, and the IBKM association since 2024.
The racing action is set to fire up with the Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix on March 15-16, 2025, propelling the start of SailGP's bundle of 2025 stateside events. These include a 'triple header' in Los Angeles, San Francisco (March 22-23), and New York (June 7-8), with an inaugural event in Rio de Janeiro (May 3-4).
Fans can grab tickets immediately at SailGP.com/tickets.