PLAYERS smashes into Germany’s padel market with key acquisition

PLAYERS, a portfolio company of Vendis Capital and the leading padel venue operator in France under the 4PADEL brand, has entered the German market through the acquisition of five venues.

PLAYERS is a French leader in indoor sports entertainment, specializing in five-a-side football and padel through its brands LE FIVE and 4PADEL. The group operates 38 premium venues in strategic locations, known for their high-quality facilities, and innovative services and digital tools designed to offer players a unique and engaging experience. With 149 courts currently in operation, 4PADEL is the leading brand in France’s rapidly growing padel market.

Through this acquisition, PLAYERS is adding 40 padel courts across five venues located in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Essen, Münster, and Mülheim. These clubs align perfectly with PLAYERS’ standards in terms of accessibility and infrastructure quality, and they will serve as a solid foundation for further expansion in the German market. This acquisition marks the group’s first step in international expansion, entering one of Europe’s most promising padel markets.

Guillaume Debelmas, Tony Jalinier, and Joseph Viéville, Co-Founders and Managing Directors of PLAYERS, commented: “This acquisition is a key milestone in the strategy we have been pursuing since partnering with Vendis – expanding across Europe by targeting sizable and still emerging padel markets. Our ambition is to successfully adapt our concept, built around a strong club atmosphere and a fully integrated digital experience, to local cultures and playing styles.”

With approximately 25% of Vendis IV’s capital already deployed across three strategic investments, the fund continues to see a strong pipeline of attractive opportunities. As an Article 8 fund under the EU SFDR, Vendis maintains a strong commitment to ESG considerations, working closely with portfolio companies to drive responsible and sustainable growth.

Mathieu de Medeiros, Partner at Vendis Capital, added: “At Vendis, our ambition is to support our portfolio companies in scaling from local leaders to European champions. From the beginning of our partnership, Germany was identified as a strategic market for expansion, and this acquisition aligns perfectly with that vision.”

PLAYERS is a mission-driven company, committed to sports practice development and democratization.