MadridThe club’s members will be asked to vote on the proposal, which would require amending its statutes, during an upcoming extraordinary general meeting, Perez announced at the annual club assembly.

He also emphasized that the current member-ownership system would remain unchanged and that membership would now hold "a genuine and tangible value."

"If someone is prepared to invest substantial sums for a symbolic share, this is the strongest proof of Real Madrid’s worth," Perez told the members during a one-hour speech frequently interrupted by applause.

"This investor – or investors – must honor our values, support the club’s growth, and assist us in safeguarding our assets from external threats," he stated.

Similar to Spanish competitors FC Barcelona, Athletic Club, and Osasuna, Real operates under a membership model. Around 2,000 members are elected as delegates to the annual meeting, where they can choose the club president, examine yearly financial reports, and vote on statute changes.

The move to allow external investors follows this month’s agreement where US fund Apollo became the majority stakeholder in Real’s rival Atletico Madrid, marking another private equity entry into football attracted by the sport’s stable and predictable income streams.

Real is the only football club worldwide to have surpassed 1 billion euros in revenue, according to Deloitte. For the 2024/2025 season, revenue rose to 1.19 billion euros, with net profit after tax increasing by 56% to 24.3 million euros, Perez revealed on Sunday.

With a valuation of $6.75 billion, the club is the most valuable globally in football, according to business magazine Forbes.

However, Perez has mentioned that the membership structure limits them, particularly when competing in the transfer market against European rivals like Paris St Germain, Manchester City, or Chelsea, which are owned by private equity firms, billionaires, or wealthy oil nations.

Real Madrid has been a leading advocate for creating a European Super League, with Perez arguing it would help the club remain competitive.

At last year’s meeting, Perez introduced the idea of a referendum on restructuring the club’s ownership to "shield us from the challenges we face" — while reaffirming the club would still be member-owned.

According to Real Madrid’s bylaws, an extraordinary meeting must be held to amend the statutes and governance structure. The club already has agreements with US private equity firms.

In 2022, Real agreed with Sixth Street to receive 360 million euros in exchange for rights to develop and operate new ventures over 20 years at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Real Madrid face Elche on Sunday evening – follow the match live with Flashscore.