Lukas Podolski has bought into his club Gornik Zabrze.
As the 2014 soccer world champion and the Polish first division team announced, the 40-year-old has acquired 104,611 registered shares in Gornik Zabrze SA through his company LP Holding GmbH. This corresponds to 8.3 percent of the share capital, making Podolski the second largest shareholder.
“Lukas Podolski’s entry into the shareholder structure is the first formal step towards taking over the club and underlines his long-standing and sincere commitment to the development of Gornik,” the club said.
The city of Zabrze, as the largest shareholder, initiated the ongoing privatization process.
Podolski, who was born in nearby Gliwice, Poland, has been playing for Zabrze since 2021.
“Gornik Zabrze is my club, my home and my football family. I am thrilled to be taking the next step and officially participating in the future of Gornik. I believe in this project and the people behind it. I want the club to develop on a solid foundation – sportingly, organizationally and economically,” said Podolski, according to the club’s announcement.