Manchester City to invest in J-League club Yokohama F. Marinos

TOKYO - Manchester City's holding company, City Football Group (CFG), will become a minority shareholder in Yokohama F. Marinos in the first significant foreign investment in a J-League club, officials said Tuesday.

Nissan Motor Co., the main shareholder, said in a statement the partnership has been "designed to create new global opportunities for the Yokohama F Marinos and Japanese soccer talent".

Terms of the deal were not known.

Under the partnership the Marinos, three-time J-League champions, will gain "unrivalled access to CFG's training methods, medical care, sport science, team management and coaching know-how", the statement said.

CFG has a global network consisting of the newly crowned English Premier League champions Manchester City, Melbourne Heart FC of Australia and New York City FC, a US Major League Soccer outfit.

"This partnership will contribute to the growth of the club, the club's home town and Japanese soccer," said Nissan president and CEO Carlos Ghosn.