In May, the Dutch FA (KNVB) announced the provisional decision to revoke Vitesse's professional licence after the club "structurally evaded the licencing system," the independent licencing committee said. It was the second time in a year that Vitesse were about to lose their professional licence and dissolve as a club.
However, on Tuesday, Vitesse announced that a local consortium, known as 'De Sterkhouders Vitesse Arnhem', which translates to 'The Strongmen Vitesse Arnhem', had taken steps towards acquiring 100% of the club's shares.
The consortium saved Vitesse in 2024 by injecting €6 million into the club to fill the budget deficit. "Now they are sticking their necks out again," said the club in a statement.
"With the 'Sterkhouders' as the intended shareholders of the club, a long-cherished wish of various Vitesse supporters is coming true: the club is back in the hands of the region."
Ever-lasting drama
Vitesse, formerly famous for being a partner club of Chelsea, played in the Eredivisie uninterruptedly from 1990 to 2024 and were a steady sub-top side, featuring in the UEFA Europa League or UEFA Europa Conference League six times between 2012 and 2021.
A new ownership group, consisting of Americans Dane Murphy and Flint Reilly, Germans Timo Braasch and Leon Muller, and Italian-American Bryan Mornaghi, took over the club in January 2025, but ran into trouble with the KNVB regarding the completion of the takeover.
The KNVB weren't convinced that Coley Parry, the owner of the Common Group, which had attempted an earlier takeover and was rejected by the licencing commission, had been frozen out of Vitesse's business and were afraid the American still had a say within the club.
Parry himself reportedly put the five owners together in an attempt to keep control of the club.
Earlier this month, the club announced Dane Murphy had left the club's ownership group as the American was set to be announced as the CEO of Charlton Athletic.
In talks with committee
With the proposed takeover, Vitesse want to reassure fans of the future in professional football. "The main objective is, of course, to retain the licence and thus professional football in Arnhem.
"With the planned acquisition of all shares, the Sterkhouders want to take a first important step in this direction. In accordance with the KNVB process, a current budget was submitted to the KNVB."
Vitesse is in intensive talks with the independent licencing committee about its future and the takeover. "The licencing committee will determine whether Vitesse can retain its licence; Vitesse will discuss this with the committee in the coming period.
"Once the budget has been finalised, important conditions for retaining the licence will have been met, thanks to the continued good relationship with our principal bank, ING, and the long-term agreement concluded with CROP Accountants.
"The coming weeks will be entirely devoted to retaining the licence at Vitesse, its shareholders, its employees, its supporters and everyone who cares deeply about the second oldest professional football club in the Netherlands. Vitesse is happy to continue working with the licensing committee on this matter."
Interim director Timo Braasch, who in May said he wanted to build on a future with Vitesse, is said to have already sold his shares along with three other investors. The Italian-American Bryan Monarghi, said to have been a classmate of Coley Parry, has reportedly not responded to the consortium's efforts to contact him.