Ħamrun Spartans president Joseph Portelli has officially become the owner of Italian club Ferrara Ars et Labor, marking a historic milestone as the first Maltese football administrator to acquire a foreign football club.

The takeover was confirmed on Thursday following the completion of negotiations with former owners Juan Martin Molinari and Andres Adolfo Marengo. The acquisition has been carried out through JP Football Holding, with immediate effect.

The move comes after Portelli and Ħamrun Spartans CEO Marcel Bonnici travelled to Italy last week to finalise the agreement, following a successful due diligence process that cleared the way for the deal.

Ferrara Ars et Labor carries a rich footballing heritage. Under the name SPAL, the club competed in Serie A between 2017 and 2019 before suffering severe financial difficulties that culminated in bankruptcy in 2025. The club was subsequently re-established and currently competes in Italy’s Eccellenza division.

In a statement announcing the takeover, the club welcomed Portelli’s arrival and pledged to restore Ferrara Ars et Labor to its former stature.

“We are pleased to announce that on July 9, 2026, Joseph Portelli, through JP Football Holding, became the new owner of Ars et Labor Ferrara,” the statement read.

“The acquisition takes immediate effect following an agreement with the previous owners. To our supporters, we wish to send a clear message: there is a full commitment to restoring Ars et Labor Ferrara to the level its history and tradition deserve.”

The new ownership said its priority is to place the club on a sound financial footing while laying the foundations for sustainable growth and long-term success.

“Our objective is to guarantee the club will operate with stability and financial solidity, allowing us to build a project capable of achieving consistent success,” the statement added.

As part of the new structure, Marcel Bonnici has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, with further appointments expected to be announced in the coming days.

The new owners also expressed their intention to meet local media and supporters in the near future to present their vision for the club.

“The fans are the heart and most precious asset of this club,” the statement concluded. “We are confident that together we can build a successful future for Ferrara Ars et Labor.”

The acquisition represents another significant step in Joseph Portelli’s growing involvement in football, adding ownership of an Italian club to his role at reigning Maltese champions Ħamrun Spartans.