Youri and Sacha Djorkaeff Invest in the French SailGP Franchise

DS Automobiles SailGP Team France has formalised announced an expansion of its ownership group, announcing the arrival of Playmaker, a sports-first investment platform, as a new shareholder.

The deal sees French football icon and FIFA World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff and his son Sacha join a high-profile consortium that already includes Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé.

The investment, executed in partnership with Monaco Asset Management, strengthens a shareholder base that features Ares Sports, Sportsology, and V-Group.

The entry of Playmaker is designed to accelerate the commercial growth of the French franchise, focusing the organisation from a traditional racing team into a global sports brand.

The move comes at a high-performance peak for the squad, following their podium finish at the season-opening Perth Sail Grand Prix.

Commenting on the announcement, co-CEO of the DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, Stephan Kandler, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Djorkaeff family and Playmaker’s investor group to DS Team France.”

“Having athletes of this calibre interested in us and our sport in general is a decisive asset in accelerating our growth and strengthening our capabilities across all areas of development,” Kandler said.

Strategic Commercial and Sporting Ambitions

For Playmaker, the investment represents a conviction in SailGP as a premier growth asset. Sacha Djorkaeff, managing partner at Playmaker, noted that the league is one of the “most exciting sports properties of this decade.”

The involvement of institutional backing from Monaco Asset Management provides the long-term stability required to compete at the highest level of the Rolex SailGP Championship.

The organisation’s credentials is already among the most robust in the league, featuring recognisable global advertisers such as DS Automobiles, Accor, L’Oréal Group, and Leyton.

SailGP managing director, Andrew Thompson, highlighted the importance of the French market, stating that having a second World Cup winner in the ownership group will help the league leverage its influence in one of the world’s most sophisticated sailing nations.

Expressing a personal connection to the sport, Youri Djorkaeff, noted: “Sailing has inspired me for years… We want to help write the next chapter in this great French story.”

With the French team currently leading the fleet racing standings, the new capital and executive expertise arrive at an important moment ahead of the Auckland Sail Grand Prix on 14–15 February 2026.

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