You may not be aware of this, but Akosua Puni Essien was formerly the owner of the assets of the Italian football team Como. Michael Essien is a former Chelsea player and a football hero from Ghana.

With the hope of turning around Como's financial woes and relegation to Italy's lower levels, Akosua Puni Essien bought the club out for about €237,000 in March 2017.

According to sources, she became the first foreign woman entrepreneur to buy an Italian football team with her purchase, which created history.

But her ambitious football venture ran into major problems very soon.

She had already bought the club out, but she hadn't yet given the FIGC the financial assurances they needed to let Como play in Serie C.

The outcome was that Como couldn't participate and eventually declared bankruptcy, sending the team back to play in Italy's fourth league, Serie D.

So, her ownership endeavour ended suddenly, not even a month after the purchase.

After being owned by the Djarum Group, which is comprised of Indonesian billionaire brothers Robert and Michael Hartono, the club's fortunes turned around in 2019.

Como ascended the Italian footballing ladder under their control, and in 2024, after a 21-year hiatus, they returned to Serie A.

As a result of its high-profile players, expanding worldwide presence, and ambitious investment plan, the club has subsequently garnered considerable attention.

With a worth of over €500 million, Como is now considered one of the most fascinating contemporary success stories in Italian football.

Going from a failing lower-division team to a prized Serie A institution in the blink of an eye is a stunning reminder of the unpredictable nature of football ownership.

An intriguing part of Como's story is Akosua Puni Essien's short participation.

Source;https://x.com/primezad_/status/2118936451198992767