Paris FC validates its rise in Ligue 1, where it can feed ambitions thanks to the Arnault family

Pierre Ferracci had been waiting for this moment for thirteen years. In 2012, the leader had taken the presidency of Paris FC (PFC), which then vegetated in National-the third level of French football-, with the dream of bringing him back in Ligue 1. This dream became reality, Friday May 2, thanks to the draw on the lawn of Martigues (1-1), combined with that of Metz against Rodez (3-3). Second in Ligue 2, with four points ahead of FC Metz, which occupies third place in the ranking, the PFC can no longer be joined one day from the end of the championship.

For supporters, the wait will have been even longer. Their club, founded in 1969, only evolved three seasons in the elite of French football, the last time in 1978-1979. This season, they will therefore have lived two historical events: this rise in Ligue 1 validated and, earlier in the season, the buyout of the club by the Arnault family, which became the majority shareholder and which will take its leadership at the end of the 2026-2027.

The millions of euros of relatives of the richest man in France have not yet boosted the PFC, which makes this accession to the first division the success of the project for several years by Pierre Ferracci. The boss of the Alpha group will however have been helped by the prospect of the arrival of the Arnault: the almost concluded deal, he had allowed himself to build the budget of the 2024-2025 season.

A delicate passage at the beginning of winter

This had allowed him to bet on players courted by stables of Ligue 1-Jean-Philippe Krasso, Maxime Lopez-while selling them the arrival of ambitious investors, without eating the name. The bet was therefore held, but the PFC was scared this season, to the point of seeing the spectrum of chess of recent years appear. The Parisian club had come closer to Ligue 1, but had cracked four times during the promotion playoffs (2019, 2021, 2022, 2024).

“Everyone knows that we’re going to get there”Ferracci announced at Mondein early November. His team then occupied first place in the classification of Ligue 2.. Is this the impact of the shattering announcement of the entrance to the Arnault family to capital? In the weeks that followed, the PFC won only two victories in nine championship games between the end of October and mid-January.

« Ils [les Arnault] told us that if we stayed two or three years in Ligue 2, this is not a problem for them ”had entrusted us with Ferracci. An additional season – or even more – in the anteroom of Ligue 1, it was not the idea that the supporters of the PFC had after the takeover. Pushed by this popular expectation, Stéphane Gilli’s players will have successfully completed their final sprint, with eight victories and only a defeat in the last ten games.

“Settling in the first part of the table”

The city of Paris will therefore be entitled to its derby next season, and it will be one of the closest in the world: the Parc des Princes and the Jean-Bouin stadium are only about fifty meters. The PFC will indeed leave his fief in eastern Parisian and the Charléty stadium – where he will play his last match against Ajaccio, next Saturday, during the last day of Ligue 2 – to invest the L’Antre in the west of the capital.

An essential change of case for the change of dimension of the club, which will certainly be active during the transfer market this summer, while avoiding “Make up players and [de] do incoherent things “warned at Mondein November, François Ferracci, the son of the president and sports director of the PFC. In this company, the promoted will be supported by the Red Bull group, which has also invested in the project to bring its sports expertise.

“As soon as we go up in Ligue 1, we will have to settle in the first part of the table”assured Pierre Ferracci. The 72-year-old leader, crazy with the final whistle in Martigues on Friday, will give in the presidency of the PFC to Antoine Arnault after the 2026-2027 season. In what situation? “In Ligue 1 and in the European Cup, but not necessarily in the Champions League”he hoped. With this climb, the PFC can start to “dream larger”, like Paris Saint-Germain, its neighbor and new rival. Provided you stay in the elite next season.