Did you know that Akosua Puni Essien, the wife of former Chelsea and Ghanaian football star Michael Essien, once owned the assets of Italian football club Como?

In March 2017, when Como was struggling financially and competing in Italy's lower divisions, Akosua Puni Essien acquired the club's assets for approximately €237,000, hoping to revive its fortunes.

Her acquisition made history, with reports describing her as the first foreign woman entrepreneur to take ownership of an Italian football club.

However, her ambitious football investment quickly encountered serious difficulties.

Despite acquiring the club's assets, she failed to provide the necessary financial guarantees required by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for Como's admission to Serie C.

As a result, Como was excluded from the competition and subsequently went bankrupt, forcing the club to restart its journey in Serie D, Italy's fourth division.

Her ownership venture therefore came to an abrupt end just months after the acquisition.

The club's fortunes eventually changed in 2019 when Indonesian billionaire brothers Robert and Michael Hartono, through the Djarum Group, took over and began investing heavily in its development.

Under their ownership, Como gradually climbed the Italian football pyramid, eventually returning to Serie A after a 21-year absence in 2024.

The club has since attracted significant attention because of its ambitious investment strategy, growing international profile and high-profile players.

Today, Como is widely regarded as one of Italian football's exciting modern success stories, with estimates placing its valuation above €500 million.

The story is a remarkable reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in football ownership, from a struggling lower-division club to a valuable Serie A institution.

Akosua Puni Essien's brief involvement remains an interesting chapter in Como's journey.

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