Singaporean billionaire Philip Lim puts Spanish football club on sale for $400M

Peter Lim and his wife Cherie Lim before the La Liga match between Valencia CF and Sevilla FC at Mestalla Stadium on Dec. 8, 2018. Photo by AFP

According to COPE, Lim is seeking €400 million (US$415.1 million) for the sale of the team.

Nasser Al Khelaifi, the president of French club PSG, is said to be one of the investors interested in the deal. However, the Qatari businessman has yet to make an official offer.

In October 2024, Spanish media first reported that Lim was considering selling Valencia. At that time, the club's financial situation was at risk, with debts reaching up to €340 million and an unfinished project for a new stadium.

Under Lim's management for the past 10 years, Valencia have fallen from being a La Liga powerhouse to a mid-table team. To load off financial pressures, several key players have been sold to help pay off the club’s debts.

Currently, Valencia find themselves in a difficult position, battling to avoid relegation to the La Liga 2 next season. The club are in 18th place in La Liga, tied on points with Las Palmas.

Lim has faced significant criticism from fans since taking control of the club in 2014. Former goalkeeper Santiago Canizares described Lim as "indifferent and lacked attention" toward the club, contributing to the rapid decline, according to Spanish media reports.

In addition to criticizing Lim, Canizares also expressed dissatisfaction with Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga. Canizares believes that Tebas' support of Lim played a role in the club’s struggles.

Lim, 71, is a private investor who has a net worth of $1.6 billion as of 2025, according to Forbes. He is also a shareholder of English club Salford City.