Jim Ratcliffe Cuts Asking Price for OGC Nice as Ineos Reshapes Its Sports Empire

Jim Ratcliffe Lowers OGC Nice Valuation Amid Turbulent Market

Billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly slashing the asking price for French football club OGC Nice to below €200 million as he seeks to streamline his company Ineos’s sprawling sports portfolio. The decision comes as France’s top football division faces mounting financial instability and unresolved broadcasting disputes.

Ratcliffe, who became co-owner of Manchester United in 2024 after purchasing a 29% stake for around £1.3 billion, initially sought more than €200 million for Nice. The club, which Ineos bought for roughly €100 million in 2019, had struggled to attract buyers at the original valuation amid ongoing economic uncertainty in Ligue 1.

France’s Broadcasting Crisis Hits Club Values

At the heart of the problem lies Ligue 1’s ongoing broadcasting crisis, which has cast a long shadow over club revenues across France. The league’s previous broadcast deal with DAZN, reportedly worth about €375 million per season, collapsed after disagreements and withheld payments.

By late 2025, Ligue 1 took the unusual step of launching its own consumer streaming channel in an attempt to maintain coverage and revenue flow. However, this move unsettled potential investors and reduced financial confidence in French football as a whole.

The collapse of the DAZN deal, coupled with declining fan engagement and matchday revenues, has significantly impacted the valuation of French clubs across the board.

Nice Struggles On and Off the Pitch

Adding to the financial headwinds, OGC Nice’s sporting performance has dipped sharply. The club currently sits 14th in Ligue 1, only six points clear of the relegation zone, following a string of five consecutive defeats.

Attendance at the Allianz Riviera has also dropped — with around 22,000 fans turning up per match this season, compared to 24,000 last year. The early exit from European competition and an unsuccessful Champions League qualifying campaign only deepened the difficulties.

UEFA Multi-Club Rules Complicate Ineos’s Football Strategy

Ineos’s ownership structure also presents complexities. Because Ratcliffe now controls football operations at Manchester United, UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules have limited cooperation between Nice and United. The regulations temporarily blocked transfers between the two clubs — most famously derailing United’s interest in defender Jean-Clair Todibo, who ultimately joined West Ham United instead.

This dynamic underscores why Ratcliffe appears ready to simplify Ineos’s sports portfolio to focus efforts and resources on his Manchester United project.

Ineos Refocuses Its Sporting Strategy

The sale of OGC Nice marks a broader repositioning within the Ineos empire. In recent months, Ratcliffe has:

Withdrew support from Sir Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup sailing team.
Ended sponsorship deals with New Zealand Rugby and Tottenham Hotspur.
Retained only selective investments — including stakes in Lausanne-Sport (Switzerland) and the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team.

This suggests a clear pivot: Ratcliffe is tightening the focus of Ineos Sports around high-impact, high-visibility ventures — with Manchester United at the core.

What This Means for the Future of Nice

For Nice supporters, the uncertainty continues. While Ineos has invested in infrastructure and youth development since 2019, the club’s lack of European consistency and limited domestic progress have made it a tough sell.

Potential buyers may now see an opportunity as the asking price dips below €200 million. But until France’s broadcasting picture stabilizes, the broader appeal of investing in Ligue 1 remains limited.

Key Takeaways

Jim Ratcliffe lowers OGC Nice’s valuation to below €200 million amid waning interest.
Ligue 1’s broadcasting turmoil has destabilised club finances and investor confidence.
On-field struggles and falling attendances have further dented Nice’s market value.
Ineos appears to be streamlining its sports investments to prioritise Manchester United.