Belgium’s Pro League will have an American-backed team in its ranks next season as RWD Molenbeek earned promotion to the top flight on Saturday following a 1-0 win over Anderlecht II.
The team, owned by billionaire businessman John Textor, will now become the third team from Brussels to play in the Pro League following Anderlecht and Union Saint-Gillois. Their promotion was confirmed after their final game in the promotion play-off round as they finished atop of the standings just a point ahead of second-place SK Beveren.
Textor, 57, is no stranger to the world of soccer as he has a stake in several clubs in Europe, South America, and the United States. Along with Molenbeek, he has a majority share in Brazilian Serie A side Botafogo. He is the controlling shareholder in the OL Groupe which consist of Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique Lyonnais Feminine in France, and OL Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League. Textor is also co-owner of Crystal Palace in the English Premier League.
Molenbeek is a team with a long history as it was founded in 1909. Through the years it has merged with other teams and folded completely before it was revived in 2015. In December 2021, it was announced that Textor, the former chairman of fuboTV, took over ownership of the club.
