Kansas City Current Owners Acquire HB Køge, Plan to Build Multi-Club Empire

Kansas City Current owners Chris and Angie Long have purchased Danish club HB Køge through their family investment firm, Ballard Capital, ESPN exclusively reported. The acquisition marks the start of their vision for a global multi-club network focused on women's soccer.

Chris Long described HB Køge as “the precedent transaction” for building out their international model. “We’re not stopping here,” he said. “We believe our blueprint from Kansas City can be adapted elsewhere—community included—and we’re already having further conversations.”

Located just south of Copenhagen, HB Køge’s women’s team won three consecutive Danish league titles (2021–2023), securing UEFA Champions League berths each time. The Longs now fully own the women’s team after separating it from the men’s, which remains under Capelli Sport’s George Altirs.

Key to their plans is a significant boost in infrastructure and commercial strategy. They’ve pledged to double investment in the academy and named Walid Khoury, co-founder of Slammers FC, as the new CEO. Khoury previously helped the team reach the Champions League.

Chris Long noted that HB Køge was under-leveraged commercially—highlighting the absence of basic revenue streams like merchandise sales. The Longs aim to change that while keeping the club’s identity intact and rooted in local values.

They envision player and staff exchanges between clubs, and are exploring further acquisitions globally. However, any future moves will depend not just on business potential, but also on the strength of a club’s soccer operations and community support.