site.btaAtanas Bostandjiev Becomes New PFC Levski Sofia Owner

Bulgarian businessman Atanas Bostandjiev has become the new owner of PFC Levski Sofia, the club's outgoing majority shareholder, Nasko Sirakov, announced on Friday. Sirakov will remain club president but will no longer hold shares.

Sirakov said he was stepping down after stabilizing the club during a critical period, ensuring its survival and preserving its identity. He stressed the need for continuity in leadership as key to Levski’s future.

Bostandjiev said his goal is to preserve Levski’s identity and independence while delivering sustainable success both on the field and in club operations, adding that he is pleased Sirakov will remain president.

A central element of Levski’s new future plan is the new Georgi Asparuhov Stadium project. Levski and the architectural and engineering firm IPA unveiled the concept, with a total investment estimated at EUR 120 million. The stadium will have a capacity of 24,718 seats under Bulgarian Football Union requirements and 23,032 under UEFA standards. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027. The stadium is designed as a multifunctional complex capable of hosting major events, including concerts for up to 40,000 people, alongside improved park areas and public spaces. IPA has over 20 years of experience and more than 50 architectural awards.

Atanas Bostandjiev is the founder and CEO of Gemcorp Capital, established in 2014, which focuses on emerging markets through a disciplined, locally informed investment approach. Before that, he was CEO of VTB Capital in the UK and a partner at Goldman Sachs in London, co-heading the emerging markets business across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He began his career at Merrill Lynch in Frankfurt in 1998.

Born in Bulgaria, Bostandjiev studied abroad after the Fall of the Berlin Wall, an experience that shaped his global outlook and commitment to emerging economies. He also founded the Chance for Children and Nature of Bulgaria foundation, which supports talented young people nationwide.