Saudi Arabia Acquires EA Sports For $55 Billion, Expanding Its Football Empire

In what can be described as another big step in its investments in international sports, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund led a consortium that recently acquired EA, one of the world’s leading video game companies responsible for the popular EA SPORTS FC, for $55 billion.

Along with private equity firm Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, an investment firm headed by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, the deal sees one of the biggest global sports gaming companies change ownership while also registering as one of the most significant buyouts in tech and entertainment.

EA's $55 billion sale is officially complete.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has finalized its acquisition of EA, taking the gaming giant private pic.twitter.com/Xb986JAqTX

— Complex Pop Culture (@ComplexPop) August 4, 2026

Electronic Arts confirmed that the transaction had officially closed. Shareholders received $210 in cash per EA share, and the company has now been delisted from Nasdaq following the completion of the takeover.

Today, the EA SPORTS FC franchise remains the biggest-selling football video game worldwide, with hundreds of millions of players annually. For example, during its first week of release, EA Sports FC 26 sold over 9 million copies worldwide, with more than 5.5 million on PlayStation. The series has grown from being a source of entertainment to an engine of fan engagement, esports, and online football communities across Africa, where football gaming is now a key part of youth culture.

A New Chapter for EA Sports

The consortium first publicly announced its intention to acquire the California-based gaming giant in September 2025, with overwhelming shareholder approval following three months later.

With the deal now complete, Electronic Arts enters a new chapter under private ownership, ending its long run as a publicly traded company.

In a statement, Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson said the company would “invest boldly, accelerate innovation, and build the next generation of games and experiences” with its new partners.

One of EA’s most prosperous business times coincides with the acquisition. In the 2026 fiscal year, the publisher made about $7.5 billion in GAAP net revenue, and Battlefield 6 had the largest launch in the franchise’s history, selling over seven million copies in its first three days.

Some of the most well-known gaming franchises in the world, such as EA SPORTS FC, Madden NFL, EA Sports College Football, Battlefield, Apex Legends, and The Sims, are part of EA’s portfolio.

The latest edition of EA SPORTS FC also features Kylian Mbappé as its global cover star, reinforcing the company’s close relationship with the biggest names in world football as it enters a new era under Saudi-led ownership.

Why Saudi Arabia Wants EA

Video games are just one aspect of the acquisition for Saudi Arabia.

The Public Investment Fund has spent the past decade building one of the world’s most ambitious sports and entertainment investment portfolios, backing projects across football, golf, boxing, motorsport, esports and digital media as part of the Kingdom’s broader economic diversification strategy.

PIF deputy governor and head of international investments, Turqi Alnowaiser, noted that the fund had already been a minority investor in Electronic Arts for more than five years before leading the takeover.

“Entertainment and sports are key areas of strategic focus for PIF and are among the fastest-growing and evolving sectors around the world,” Alnowaiser said.

The investment strengthens Saudi Arabia’s influence across multiple parts of the global football ecosystem, from owning Newcastle United, staging high-profile international football events and preparing to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, to now controlling one of the sport’s most influential digital platforms through EA SPORTS FC.

The Kingdom has also expanded aggressively into competitive gaming. Saudi Arabia hosted the 2025 Esports World Cup, one of the largest esports competitions ever staged, as it seeks to establish itself as a global hub for gaming, digital entertainment and emerging technologies.

The acquisition of Electronic Arts therefore represents another strategic step in connecting traditional sport with the rapidly growing world of interactive entertainment.

Football’s Biggest Video Game Changes Hands

One of the most influential cultural products in football today is EA SPORTS FC.

Each year, the franchise introduces millions of fans to new players, teams, and events before they are seen on TV. The game provides entertainment as well as an introduction to football tactics, player development, and international leagues for a large number of younger fans throughout Africa.

The acquisition is more than just a corporate transaction. It puts one of football’s most influential digital products in the hands of investors who have made sports a key component of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification strategy.

According to Egon Durban, Chief Executive Officer of Silver Lake, the consortium looks forward to supporting the next stage of growth for EA, which includes expanding investment in artificial intelligence to improve game development and player experiences.

Jared Kushner, Chief Executive Officer of Affinity Partners, stated that Electronic Arts has created stories, characters, and communities that hundreds of millions of people around the world use in their daily lives.

There will undoubtedly be concerns about how Saudi Arabia’s increased investment in football will affect the sport’s digital future, especially in rapidly expanding markets like Africa, where football gaming is growing along with the continent’s youth.

The new ownership starts with one of the most well-known sports gaming brands in the world at its core, whether through esports, artificial intelligence, creator partnerships, or future football content.