A consortium including former AC Milan and Brazil striker Alexandre Pato has had its proposed acquisition of a shareholding in League Two side Northampton Town approved by the Independent Football Regulator and the English Football League. The deal ends months of speculation since April, when the club first confirmed talks with a "well-funded investment group", and comes as Northampton looks to stabilise its finances and recover from relegation.

The investing group, Sports Alpha Capital, also includes London-based Gemcorp Capital, though the size of its proposed stake has not been disclosed, with full details promised once the deal completes. Northampton were relegated to League Two last season after finishing bottom of League One, posted a pre-tax loss of nearly £3m in April, and remain winless in 2026-27; chairman Kelvin Thomas said the investment would make the club debt-free. Pato, 37, retired last year after a career including a prolific spell at AC Milan, where he won the 2010-11 Serie A title.