Team Vitality reportedly on the verge of acquiring Paris Volley

Team Vitality could soon become the majority shareholder of a volleyball club. According to information revealed by French newspaper Le Parisien on August 26, discussions have taken place between the Vitality group and the current shareholders of Paris Volley, who have been looking for new investors for some time.

A member of France's first division, Paris Volley is one of the country's historic clubs, having won the league title nine times since 2000. The organization also became the first French club to win the men's CEV Champions League in 2001.

Despite this reputation, the club has also been facing significant financial difficulties for some time and narrowly avoided disappearing in 2018 following its relegation that year, ultimately remaining afloat thanks to the arrival of new investors. According to Le Parisien, some of the club's players have also reportedly not received their full salaries this season.

Contacted by Sheep Esports, the French esports club declined to comment on the reports of ongoing negotiations. However, this would not be the French organization's first association with a traditional sports club. In recent years, the organization has notably established partnerships with several football clubs. In 2025, for instance, Team Vitality partnered with Paris Saint-Germain during the eLigue 1 on EA Sports FC. Before that, the Hive partnered with two other football clubs, LOSC Lille and Dijon Football Côte-d'Or.

The organization has also already developed a habit of working with traditional athletes. Canoeists Matthieu Péché and Gauthier Klauss joined the organization, as did tennis player Thierry Ascione. In 2019, Team Vitality also became the first French esports organization to become a resident club at the Stade de France, establishing offices there to accommodate some of its teams.

This is not the first esports organization to seek closer ties with traditional sports. In 2025, French newspaper L'Équipe reported that Team Vitality's domestic competitor, Karmine Corp, was in discussions with RAC Basket de Rueil-Malmaison, a fourth-division club, with the aim of launching their own basketball team. There have been no further updates on the project since then.