Aarhus Fremad: Paystack co-founder Shola Akinlade buys Danish club

Nigerian tech entrepreneur and billionaire, Shola Akinlade, has expanded his footprint in football by acquiring a 55% majority stake in Danish second-division side Aarhus Fremad, Soccernet.ng reports.

Akinlade, 38, is best known as the co-founder of Paystack, the pioneering payment solution platform he launched in 2016 alongside Ezra Olubi.

In 2020, the company was acquired by global payment giant Stripe for a reported $200 million (₦108 billion), marking one of Africa’s biggest tech exits.

Since then, Akinlade has ventured into sports, launching Sporting Lagos in 2022 — a football club currently competing in the Nigeria National League (NNL). His latest move signals a deeper commitment to football development, both locally and internationally.

According to Danish outlet Stiften, Akinlade’s acquisition of Aarhus Fremad is part of a long-term vision to create a sustainable talent pipeline between Nigeria and Europe.

Sporting Lagos will serve as a foundational platform for young Nigerian footballers, offering them the opportunity to develop and eventually transition to the European stage through Aarhus Fremad.

Beyond player movement, the partnership is expected to strengthen Sporting Lagos’ sporting structure — including the establishment of a youth academy and the integration of professional football principles inspired by European models.

With this acquisition, Akinlade becomes the fifth foreign owner of a Danish football club, further underlining the growing international interest in Denmark’s football ecosystem.