In a groundbreaking stride towards diversity and inclusion in sports ownership, former England women’s player Eniola Aluko has etched her name in history as the first black woman to own a club in Italy.
Eniola Aluko, originally from Lagos, Nigeria, was born to Nigerian parents in 1987. Despite her Nigerian heritage, she later became a British citizen and made significant contributions to the English women’s football scene.
The 37-year-old announced this milestone on her social media platforms, unveiling her involvement in a groundbreaking initiative. Aluko revealed her membership in a $100 million ownership consortium called Mercury 13, which has obtained a majority stake in FC Como’s women’s team.
Established just two years ago in 2020, Como Women has swiftly ascended within the Italian football realm. The team competes in the prestigious Serie A, the top tier of Italian women’s football, and plays its home matches in a stadium with a seating capacity of 3,700.