Bay Collective Completes Acquisition of Sunderland AFC Women

Sunderland, UK, June 18, 2026 – Bay Collective and Sunderland AFC today announced the completion of Bay Collective’s acquisition of a majority stake in Sunderland AFC Women (“Sunderland Women”), following receipt of formal approval from the Barclays Women’s Super League. The milestone marks the official launch of a transformative new chapter for the Club, one of English women’s football’s most historic and storied institutions.

Together, Bay Collective and Sunderland AFC Women will focus on strengthening player development, enhancing the matchday experience for fans, and investing in critical infrastructure, including the Academy of Light, to build a world-class environment for women’s football for generations to come.

Led by Chief Executive Officer Kay Cossington, MBE and backed by global investment firm Sixth Street, Bay Collective is a multi-club ownership platform built around the belief that women’s football clubs can win, thrive, and set new standards for the sport on a global scale. Sunderland Women becomes the second club in Bay Collective’s global platform, alongside Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League. Sunderland AFC will retain a minority stake in Sunderland Women, ensuring connectivity to the Club’s identity, values, and deep community roots.

“What drew us to Sunderland from the very beginning was the depth of its identity, the history, the Academy, the fans, and the incredible legacy this Club has built in English women’s football,” said Cossington. “Our ambition is to build this Club sustainably and thoughtfully, investing across every part of the organization from player development to infrastructure to the matchday experience so that the success we create here lasts well beyond any of us. This is the moment the real work begins, and we couldn’t be more excited for it.”

“This is a significant and exciting step for our Club, and we are thrilled to partner with Bay Collective for the future of Sunderland Women,” shared Tom Burwell, Chief Executive Officer of Sunderland AFC. “Bay Collective brings world-class expertise and a genuine belief in what this Club can become, and we look forward to what this partnership will deliver for our players, our Academy, and our fans.”

Note to Editors

Media representatives will be invited to an in-person press event at the Stadium of Light ahead of the start of the 2026/2027 season for Sunderland Women, where Bay Collective and Club representatives will be available to speak with the media. The date and time will be communicated in due course.

About Sunderland AFC Women

Sunderland AFC Women is a professional women’s football Club proudly rooted in one of English football’s most historic institutions, founded in 1879. Based in the North-East of England, a longstanding cradle of women’s football talent, the Club has a proud history of developing players who have gone on to represent England on the global stage. Built on a clear footballing identity, a strong Academy, and a deep connection to its community, the Club is committed to sustainable growth and long-term success. Sunderland AFC Women is a member Club of Bay Collective, the global women’s football multi-club ownership platform backed by Sixth Street. Learn more at www.safc.com/women and follow the Lasses on social channels (@SAFCWomen).

About Bay Collective

Bay Collective is a multi-club ownership platform focused on building women’s football clubs that win on the pitch, thrive off it, and set new standards for the sport worldwide. Launched in 2025 and backed by Sixth Street’s global platform, Bay Collective’s ambition isn’t incremental; it’s transformational – for athletes, staff, and the communities that support them. Led by Kay Cossington, MBE, Bay Collective’s belief in the women’s game comes from lived experience, bringing a deep understanding of its talent, momentum, and the dedicated effort required to scale it sustainably. Clubs join a collective that protects their identity, amplifies their strengths, and connects them to world-class infrastructure and expertise. Bay Collective’s mission is to nurture excellence and prove that women’s football can be both culturally powerful and commercially robust at a global level. Learn more at www.baycollective.com and follow Bay Collective on LinkedIn.

About Sixth Street

Founded in San Francisco in 2009, Sixth Street is a global investment firm with over $130 billion of assets under management and committed capital. Sixth Street is the founding lead investor in Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League and the backer of Bay Collective. The firm is a strategic investment partner to FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, the San Francisco Giants, the Boston Celtics, the San Antonio Spurs, and the New England Patriots. Sixth Street uses its long-term flexible capital, data-enabled capabilities, and One Team culture to develop themes and offer solutions to companies across all stages of growth. Sixth Street has more than 750 team members, including approximately 300 investment professionals operating across our global locations. For more information, and additional disclosures, visit www.sixthstreet.com, and follow Sixth Street on LinkedIn.

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