Financial problems continue to plague Nissan, which is reportedly looking to sell its majority stake in the Yokohama F Marinos soccer club.
According to The Nikkei, Nissan has begun looking for companies to buy its 75 per cent share in the football club. The newspaper’s sources say Nissan has approached several firms already, and is looking to have a final list of potential buyers by the end of year.
If all goes to plan, Nissan hopes to complete the sale some time in 2026. It’s unclear how much money selling the Marinos will rake in. There’s no word on whether Nissan plans to renew its naming rights to the team’s 75,000-seat home stadium, which lapse in February 2026.
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Nissan’s investment the Marinos was safe under previous restructuring plans, but the depth of the Japanese automaker’s current crisis has forced CEO Ivan Espinosa, who was appointed in April this year, to leave no stone unturned as the company slashes costs and raises funds.
The Yokohama-based firm has been skating on thin financial ice for about two years. The magnitude of its problems became clear in May when it announceda loss of ¥670.9 billion (A$7.1bn)for the financial year ending March 2025.
As part of Mr Espinosa’s Re:Nissan recovery plan, it will cut its global workforce by 15 per cent or 20,000 people, and close seven of its 17 car plants. Nissan has also paused development of vehicles and technology due for launch after March 2027, asked suppliers to accept late payments, and may sell its global HQ.
In the global sales race, Nissan has dropped out of the top 10 for the first time in 16 years, with the Yokohama firm pipped by Suzuki according to figures revealed for the first half of 2025.
Nissan, following in the footsteps of other large Japanese companies, founded the amateur Nissan Motor Soccer Club in 1972.
The club changed its name in 1992 to Nissan FC Yokohama Marinos when it became a founding member of the J League, Japan’s first fully professional football competition, which initially featured 10 teams, three of which were owned by automakers (Toyota, Mazda and Nissan).
In 1999 it merged with crosstown rivals Yokohama Flügels to become the Yokohama F Marinos.
In 2014, the City Football Group – parent company of Manchester City FC, as well as Melbourne City FC – bought a 25 per cent stake in the Marinos. It’s unknown if City is interested in purchasing part of Nissan’s stake in the Yokohama club, although a foreign entity it is barred from taking a majority shareholding.
The Marinos have a long history with history with Australians, with former Socceroos and Tottenham Hotspurs coach Ange Postecoglou guiding them to the J1 League title in 2019. Since then they’ve employed a number of Aussie managers, including Kevin Muscat, Harry Kewell and Patrick Kisnorbo.