Extraordinary link between Sunderland and Seinfeld as Kyril Louis-Dreyfus takes over

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is set to takeover League One giants Sunderland with an agreement having been reached for him to buy Stewart Donald's controlling interest

Posted Saturday, December 26, 2020 by Dailystar.co.uk

Sunderland are set to have a famous connection following Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’s agreement to buy Stewart Donald's controlling interest.

The 22-year-old Frenchman is set to become chairman of the League One club in the new year, subject to approval by the EFL.

Despite being so young, he has plenty of cash in his back pocket as the Black Cats look to climb back up the leagues.

Louis-Dreyfus is one of three children to the late Swiss-French Businessman Robert Louis-Dreyfus.

His father Robert, who died in 2009 after a long battle with leukaemia, was CEO at Adidas and majority shareholder at Marseille.

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is set to takeover as chairman of Sunderland

The incoming Sunderland owner inherited a third of his father’s fortune and is estimated to have a trust fund worth more than £2bn held by his mother.

Kyril’s mother Margarita Bogdanova is considered the richest Russian woman on the planet, with Forbes estimating her to be worth £4.1bn.

The famous connections don’t end there though.

Robert Louis-Dreyfus was cousins with American actress and Seinfeld star Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Julia won a Golden Globe Award during her time on the US sitcom as well as receiving plenty of nominations for a number of gongs.

Her father Gérard Louis-Dreyfus is a billionaire and former CEO of global merchant firm Louis Dreyfus.

So Sunderland are set to have rich hands at the helm at least, with Kyril Louis-Dreyfus hoping to get the Black Cats back to the Premier League.

"We respectfully await the EFL's approval for this transaction," Louis-Dreyfus said.

"Nonetheless it would be remiss of me at this stage not to emphasise what an enormous honour it would be for me to become involved with such a historic club, in a city renowned for its rich football culture going back to 1879.

"Many will be aware of my family connections to the industry and, in acquiring Sunderland AFC, I understand the responsibility that's placed upon me as the custodian of the club's future.

"If we all play our parts, I firmly believe we can restore Sunderland AFC to the top tier of English football and I can't wait to get started."