The Nouvelle-Aquitaine Football League confirmed on Thursday, 8 October, that Bordeaux had been approved to play in Regional 1, the top regional division and the sixth level of the French football pyramid.
The decision follows sanctions over the club’s inability to demonstrate sufficient financial guarantees and meet its obligations. Bordeaux had been required to provide approximately €10 million to cover the 2025–26 and 2026–27 financial years and address debt payments.
New owners take over as Bordeaux seek a fresh start
Bordeaux were sold in September to US-based investment group Park Bench for a symbolic €1, with the new owners agreeing to assume the club’s remaining debt.
Dominique Delport, appointed president under the new ownership, welcomed the latest development and said the rebuilding process could begin.
The club’s recovery plan is expected to run for 12 years, with reported debt reductions from €26 million to €13 million. The plan is due to be considered by the commercial court on 20 October.
Although Bordeaux have received approval to compete in Regional 1, their immediate challenge will be to stabilise their finances and rebuild a club whose professional status has already been lost.
From French champions to regional football
Bordeaux were among France’s leading clubs for decades, winning six league titles and developing or showcasing several prominent players.
Zinedine Zidane made his name at the club before becoming one of world football’s most celebrated figures. Former France internationals Bixente Lizarazu and Christophe Dugarry also emerged from Bordeaux’s system and later played alongside Zidane in France’s 1998 World Cup-winning team.
Alain Giresse and Jean Tigana were also associated with the club during an influential period in French football, having been part of France’s European Championship-winning side in 1984.
The club’s decline has been dramatic. After dropping out of Ligue 1 in 2022, Bordeaux entered judicial restructuring in 2024, relinquished professional status and lost its highly regarded academy.
A long road back
Bordeaux’s place in Regional 1 offers a route to continue competing, but it marks a significant fall for a club with a rich domestic and European history.
The new ownership faces the task of restoring financial stability, rebuilding the squad and winning promotion through the French football pyramid. For supporters, the immediate priority will be seeing the club survive this period and begin its recovery on the pitch.