Żabbar St Patrick have embarked on a new chapter in their 114-year history after signing a landmark investment agreement with Dragan Šolak and his partners, which will see the club become part of a wider international football network.

Under the agreement, Šolak and his partners will acquire a 65 per cent shareholding in a newly established Sports Private Limited Liability Company (SPLLC), which will take over the club’s football operations.

The move follows the approval of a motion by club members during an Extraordinary General Meeting to transform the football operations into an SPLLC, paving the way for international investment.

The partnership will enable Żabbar to benefit from international expertise and collaboration in football operations, recruitment, player development, performance and club management.

Šolak’s sports investment group, Sport Republic, is involved with Southampton in England, Göztepe in Türkiye and Valenciennes in France.

The agreement is expected to provide Żabbar with access to the group’s experience, knowledge and best practices as the club seeks to strengthen its structures and establish itself at the highest level of Maltese football.

Club president Ryan Otto, who signed the agreement on behalf of Żabbar, described the occasion as a historic moment for the club.

Otto explained that the agreement was the culmination of considerable effort by several individuals and emphasised that the quality of the investors and their shared vision were more important than the financial aspect of the transaction.

He said the partnership brought together people with similar values and ambitions for the club’s future.

Vice-president Fabio Muscat, who played a key role in bringing the parties together and throughout the negotiations, said the agreement represented the beginning of a new phase in the club’s development.

Muscat highlighted the contribution of generations of volunteers, former presidents and committee members who had helped build the foundations of the club throughout its 114-year history.

He explained that the investment would allow Żabbar to improve their structures, raise professional standards and develop their football operations.

The club’s long-term ambition, he added, was to build a team capable of competing at the highest level and eventually challenging for honours.

Meanwhile, Šolak, who holds a Maltese passport, explained that he and his family had developed a strong attachment to Malta and had been looking for an opportunity to become more involved in the local community.

He welcomed the legislative changes which have enabled Maltese football clubs to transform their operations into companies, opening the door for private investment.

Šolak said that the history of Żabbar St Patrick and the dedication of the people involved in the club had played an important role in attracting him and his partners to the project.

He emphasised that the principal objective was to help Żabbar achieve sustainable growth by establishing the foundations necessary for long-term stability and sporting success.

The investor also outlined how the club could benefit from its association with Sport Republic’s existing football operations.

A number of players have already joined Żabbar from Göztepe, and Šolak indicated that similar opportunities could arise through Valenciennes and potentially Southampton in the future.

Such collaboration could provide Żabbar with additional opportunities in player recruitment and development while allowing the club to benefit from the experience and resources available within the wider football group.

Šolak also praised the commitment and loyalty of the people involved in Żabbar St Patrick, describing their dedication as an essential element in the club’s future development.

Another investor involved in the agreement, Vladislav Ratajac, who has been based in Malta for almost eight years, also expressed his commitment to the project.

Ratajac said his involvement represented more than a financial investment and that he intended to contribute his time, resources and experience to help the club achieve its objectives.

The agreement marks a significant development for Żabbar St Patrick as the club seeks to combine its long-standing community identity with international investment and expertise in pursuit of sustained progress in Maltese football.