Sports streaming platform, DAZN, has announced an agreement to acquire ELEVEN Group’s global sports media businesses, which expands DAZN’s global streaming capabilities.

Once completed, the deal will see DAZN become the broadcaster of the top football leagues in Portugal and Belgium, and utilise ELEVEN’s businesses to complement their market positions in Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Spain.

Team Whistle, an ELEVEN owned media business, will enable DAZN to reach younger audiences, while diversifying and expanding fan engagement, and maximising the value of their rights portfolio.

DAZN will also build on its football portfolio through the integration of ELEVEN into the DAZN platform, which will stream over 40,000 matches each year due to strategic partnerships with FIFA and 90 FIFA member organisations.

Additionally, DAZN will utilise partnerships with six confederations to create the world’s largest portfolio of women’s football, which adds to DAZN’s roster of UEFA Women’s Champions League, Liga F in Spain, the English FA Women’s Super League and the Women’s FA Cup, and Japanese WE League.

Commenting on the deal, DAZN Group CEO, Shay Segev, said: “The acquisition adds scale to our business. It is a big step forward in our mission to be the leading global sports platform.”

“I have a great deal of respect for what Andrea, Marc and the team have achieved and look forward to working with them as we further expand our ambitions.

“Together we form the strongest and most credible management team in the sector.

“DAZN has invested in building a revolutionary digital sports platform, where fans can enjoy the full range of interactive sport entertainment.

“We are looking forward to expanding these capabilities to new markets as well as leveraging ELEVEN’s capabilities in DAZN,” he said.

ELEVEN Group chief executive officer, Marc Watson, added: “We see DAZN as the future of digital sports broadcasting and the ideal home for ELEVEN.”

“Sport is global entertainment and joining with DAZN will be transformative, allowing us to access greater economies of scale and a global platform for our talented team.

“We couldn’t be more excited about this deal, and I’m really looking forward to working with Shay and the team at DAZN,” he said.

The news comes after DAZN gained the broadcasting rights to England’s Women’s Super League (WSL) and Women’s FA Cup, in more than 10 countries.