Antwerp FC Owner Gets Payment Deferral as Takeover Talks Intensify
Royal Antwerp FC owner Paul Gheysens has been granted a payment deferral by British hedge fund Fasanara on a loan of approximately €10 million that was due on June 30, 2026, as negotiations for the takeover of the Belgian football club continue with a consortium led by former Anderlecht chairman Wouter Vandenhaute and ex-Red Devil Toby Alderweireld, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
The Financial Crisis at the Bosuil
The deadline of June 30 at 23:59 marked the date by which Gheysens was required to repay the first tranche of a €35 million loan provided two years ago by Fasanara to Goala, the private company through which Gheysens and his son Michael acquired the shares of Royal Antwerp FC. The club’s shares were used as collateral for the loan, with the full €35 million due by autumn 2026.
According to HLN, Fasanara has now granted Gheysens a payment deferral, signaling that the hedge fund believes he can reach a short-term agreement on the sale of part or all of his shares to repay the debt. The new deadline has not been publicly disclosed.
Gheysens had previously attempted to secure a €100 million loan from Carlyle to address the financial pressure, but that deal did not materialize, as Voetbalprimeur.be reported.
The Takeover Consortium
Multiple parties are in negotiations to acquire the club. The most prominent consortium is led by Wouter Vandenhaute, who served as chairman of RSC Anderlecht from 2020 to 2025 before stepping down after sustained fan protests. Vandenhaute would become the main shareholder if the deal goes through.
Joining him is Toby Alderweireld, the former Belgian international who scored the title-winning goal for Antwerp in 2023 and has become a club icon. Alderweireld is looking to transition into football club ownership as a minority shareholder.
The Antwerp entrepreneurial families Donckers and Van Loon are also involved in the potential takeover, according to Voetbalkrant.com. A foreign party has also been mentioned as a potential buyer for a partial share sale.
A Club in Sporting Crisis
While the ownership saga unfolds, the sporting situation at Antwerp has deteriorated significantly. The club currently has no head coach — training is being led by Faris Haroun — and no negotiations with new coaches are taking place until the ownership situation is clarified.
The squad has been decimated by expiring contracts. The contracts of Janssen, Kerk, Benitez, Praet, Engels, Babadi, and Diawara have officially ended. Van den Bosch, Corbanie, and Kouyaté have already moved on to other clubs. Only Foulon, Hairemans, Somers, and Van Helden remain as relatively experienced Belgian players.
CEO Sven Jaecques’ contract also expired on June 30, leaving a leadership vacuum at the administrative level. It is intended that he remain if the Vandenhaute group takes over.
Broader Financial Context
Gheysens’ financial difficulties extend beyond the football club. His real estate group Ghelamco carries approximately €1.3 billion in debt, with €895 million needing repayment within the year as of 2024. Auditor KPMG raised a “substantial doubt” clause about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, as VRT NWS reported.
The high-interest-rate environment has made debt servicing particularly challenging for real estate companies. Ghelamco sold €320 million in properties in 2023 to manage its debt load. Gheysens’ media group MediaNation has also faced financial difficulties.
What’s Next for Antwerp?
Several scenarios are possible. The Vandenhaute-Alderweireld consortium could succeed, bringing new capital and stability, though Vandenhaute’s controversial history at Anderlecht may generate fan opposition. Alternatively, Gheysens might sell only part of his shares to a foreign party, retaining some involvement while raising funds to repay Fasanara.
If negotiations fail, Fasanara could take ownership of the club — an unprecedented situation for a Belgian top-flight club. With the new season approaching and the squad severely depleted, time is running out for a resolution.
The coming days will be critical for Royal Antwerp FC as the club faces one of the most uncertain periods in its storied history.