Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, the 27-year-old billionaire owner of Sunderland AFC, is not only making headlines for his achievements in football ownership but also for his friendship with Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé.
Louis-Dreyfus first joined Sunderland’s board in February 2021 at just 23 years old, becoming the youngest chairman in English football. Since then, he has steadily increased his shares and now holds a majority stake of 64% in the Black Cats, with Uruguayan businessman Juan Sartori owning the remaining 36%. The duo took full control of the club in May 2023 after buying out Stewart Donald.
Louis-Dreyfus, son of the late former Marseille owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus, has been a regular figure in the stands at the Stadium of Light. He was spotted sitting alongside Dembélé during Sunderland’s Championship clash with Sheffield United in March 2023, a match that underlined their close friendship.
Dembélé himself showed support for Sunderland before their play-off final against Sheffield United at Wembley last year, wishing the club good luck.
Now, as Sunderland return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence with an opening-day 3-0 win over West Ham United, Louis-Dreyfus continues to draw attention not just for his youthful leadership in English football but also for the high-profile friendships he keeps.