{{Short description|Chinese American entrepreneur and investor}} {{distinguish|Ch'ien Lee|Chien Lee (composer)}} {{Infobox person | name = Chien Lee | image = Chien Lee at OGC Nice(8).jpg | caption = Lee in 2016 | birth_date = 1960 | birth_place = Hong Kong | occupation = Entrepreneur<br>Investor<br>Sports team owner | organization = NewCity Capital | known_for = First person to invest in nine European football clubs:<br />FC Thun (Switzerland) <br />AS Nancy Lorraine (France) <br />FC Kaiserslautern (Germany) <br />GKS Tychy (Poland)<br />Barnsley F.C. (England)<br />OGC Nice (France) <br /> Esbjerg fB (Denmark) <br /> FC Den Bosch (Netherlands) <br /> K.V. Oostende (Belgium) | spouse = | website = | alma_mater = |module = {{Infobox officeholder |embed = yes |order = |office = Chairman of AS Nancy Lorraine |term_start = December 2020 |term_end = present |predecessor = |module = {{Infobox officeholder |embed = yes |order = |office = Chairman of Barnsley F.C. |term_start = December 2017 |term_end = May 2022 |predecessor = |module = {{Infobox officeholder |embed = yes |order = |office = Chairman of OGC Nice |term_start = June 2016 |term_end = August 2019 }} }} }} }} '''Chien Lee''' ({{lang-zh|c=李建|p=Lǐ Jiàn}}, born 1960) is a Chinese-American entrepreneur, investor, and sports team owner. He owns multiple professional European football clubs and is an investor in European football.<ref name="sportwitness.co.uk">[http://sportwitness.co.uk/barnsley-co-chairman-talks-buy-new-club-moving-right-direction-deal-done-e8-10m/ "Barnsley co-chairman in talks to buy new club – ‘Moving in right direction’, deal could be done at €8-10m"]</ref><ref name="sportspromedia.com">[https://www.sportspromedia.com/analysis/european-soccer-club-owner-guide-city-football-group-model-jordan-gardner “An expert’s guide to owning a European soccer club - part four: Multi-club ownership”]</ref>
Lee is the founder and Chairman of NewCity Capital and co-founder of 7 Days Inn.<ref>[https://chinaeconomicreview.com/7-days-founder-talks-budget-hotels-china/ ''7 Days founder talks budget hotels in China '']</ref> He is the first person to invest in nine European football clubs including FC Thun,<ref>[https://fcthun.ch/de/welcome191126/FC-Thun-Bernese-Oberland-and-PMG "FC Thun"]</ref> AS Nancy Lorraine,<ref>[https://www.archysport.com/2020/12/the-former-owner-of-ogc-nice-buys-as-nancy-lorraine/ “The former owner of OGC Nice buys AS Nancy-Lorraine!”]</ref><ref name="c.estrepublicain.fr">[https://c.estrepublicain.fr/sport/2021/02/05/as-nancy-lorraine-chien-lee-officiellement-president-du-conseil-d-administration “AS Nancy Lorraine : Chien Lee officiellement président du conseil d’administration”]</ref> FC Kaiserslautern,<ref name="bloombergquint.com">[https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/u-s-investors-buy-stake-in-german-football-club-kaiserslautern “U.S. Investors Buy Stake in German Football Club Kaiserslautern”] “www.bloomberg.com”</ref> GKS Tychy FC.<ref name="silesion.pl">[https://silesion.pl/tychy-investment-company-limited-sfinalizowal-pierwszy-etap-inwestycji-w-klub-pilkarski-gks-tychy-s-a/ “Tychy Investment Company Limited has finalized the first stage of investment in Klub Piłkarski GKS Tychy S.A.”]</ref> OGC Nice,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chinagoabroad.com/en/recent_transaction/chinese-american-investors-acquire-french-football-club-nice |title=American investors acquire French football club Nice |access-date=2020-01-13 |archive-date=2016-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917022326/http://www.chinagoabroad.com/en/recent_transaction/chinese-american-investors-acquire-french-football-club-nice |url-status=dead}}</ref> Barnsley F.C.,<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/19/barnsley-consortium-takeover-nice-owner-chien-lee-billy-beane " Moneyball comes to Barnsley as group including Billy Beane seals takeover "],</ref> K.V. Oostende,<ref>[https://www.kvo.be/nieuws/meer-info-over-nieuwe-investeerders-focus-op-jonge-beloftevolle-spelers"New investors for K.V. Oostende"]</ref> Esbjerg fB,<ref name="efb.dk">[https://efb.dk/efb-praesenterer-ny-hovedaktionaer/ "EfB presents new majority shareholder"]</ref> and FC Den Bosch,<ref name="netherlandsnewslive.com">[https://netherlandsnewslive.com/fc-den-bosch-gets-green-light-from-knvb-and-finally-comes-into-american-hands-dutch-football/229094/ “FC Den Bosch gets green light from KNVB and finally comes into American hands | Dutch football”]</ref> He is regarded as a pioneer of multi-club ownership in European football.<ref name="Sportico"/> The ''Financial Times'' stated that Lee has refined Moneyball<ref name="ft.com">[https://www.ft.com/content/a2724840-9851-4900-b331-e4be9247f7ed “Barnsley’s dream team give football club sporting chance - FT”]</ref> and ''The Wall Street Journal'' called Lee's football journey "a Moneyball experiment in English soccer".<ref name="wsj.com">[https://www.wsj.com/articles/barnsley-championship-promotion-moneyball-billy-beane-11621176691 “A Moneyball Experiment in English Soccer’s Second Tier - WSJ”]</ref> Some of his club tenures have attracted controversy, including for poor league performances and lack of investment into players.<ref name=athletic>{{cite web |last1=Slater |first1=Matt |title=U.S. soccer investor fighting extradition from Spain, wanted on multiple allegations of fraud |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6453698/2025/06/26/paul-conway-fraud-kv-oostende/ |website=nytimes.com |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=22 March 2026 |date=26 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Barnsley: EFL fine former directors Paul Conway & Chien Lee |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cd6yy90104go |website=bbc.co.uk/sport |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=1 June 2026 |date=6 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Adam |last2=Devin |first2=Eric |title=Terrible Toulouse all but relegated but problems may be just beginning |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/09/terrible-toulouse-all-but-relegated-problems-just-beginning-chien-lee-ligue-1 |website=The Guardian |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=1 June 2026 |date=9 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Calls in Belgium for Conway to be banned from football |url=https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/article/28359/calls-in-belgium-for-conway-to-be-banned-from-football |website=barnsleychronicle.com |publisher=Barnsley Chronicle |access-date=1 June 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== Lee is the founder, Chairman, and CEO of NewCity Capital, a private investment company, focused on the sport and hospitality industries.<ref name="Sportico"></ref> In August 1989, he founded Lee Holdings Company Inc., a US-based investment company focused on the acquisition of real estate assets. Later in 2005, Lee invested in the hospitality Industry, co-founding 7 Days Inn (NYSE: SVN), one of the largest budget hotel chains in China.<ref name="chinaeconomicreview.com">[https://chinaeconomicreview.com/7-days-founder-talks-budget-hotels-china/ “7 Days founder talks budget hotels in China”]</ref> In 2014, Lee invested in The Grand Ho Tram Strip resort in Vietnam.<ref name="Forbes Ho Tram">{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/muhammadcohen/2014/08/19/vietnam-casino-investor-checks-junket-hotel-boxes/#46ecbdbb264b |title="Forbes: Vietnam Casino Investor Checks Junket, Hotel Boxes" |website=Forbes |access-date=2018-03-04 |archive-date=2018-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304232138/https://www.forbes.com/sites/muhammadcohen/2014/08/19/vietnam-casino-investor-checks-junket-hotel-boxes/#46ecbdbb264b |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2016, Lee began investing in professional sports and acquired stakes in several European football clubs. Since then he has invested in nine clubs in collaboration with Hong Kong-based sports firm Pacific Media Group,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rayner |first1=Stuart |title=Calls for former Barnsley co-chairman to be banned from football worldwide after Belgian club's collapse |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/calls-for-former-barnsley-fc-co-chairman-to-be-banned-from-football-worldwide-after-belgian-clubs-collapse-4633472 |publisher=Yorkshire Post |access-date=1 June 2026 |language=en |date=17 May 2024}}</ref> forming one of the largest multi‑club portfolios in Europe by number of teams.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-13/the-florida-financiers-buying-up-europe-s-soccer-teams “The Florida Financiers Buying Up Europe’s Soccer Teams”] “www.bloomberg.com”</ref>
Lee has developed an organizational structure capable of managing clubs across different national and cultural contexts.<ref>[https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202005/21/WS5ec641eca310a8b24115760d.html “Chinese-backed group broadens European soccer portfolio”]</ref><ref name="sportspromedia.com"/><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2374435/2021/02/10/barnsley-valerien-ismael-pressing/ “Barnsley don’t have Chelsea’s quality, but we can dominate with our intensity”]</ref> In a 2018 interview with ''Forbes'', Lee said that he would use a data approach to identify talents, focusing on young players on the sporting side, and balancing the budget on the business side.<ref name="pbauspeech">[https://www.forbes.com/sites/armstrongpaul/2018/02/01/football-crazy-why-a-chinese-american-investor-brought-moneyball-to-a-sleepy-english-town/#47ae55195fb3 "Football Crazy: Why A Chinese-American Investor Brought Moneyball To A Sleepy English Town"], ''Forbes.com''</ref>
==Sports investment== ===Multi-club ownership=== {{Location map+ |Europe |float=right |width=350 |caption=Locations of Lee’s current and former Football clubs in Europe |places= {{location map~ |Europe |lat= 53.552929 |long= -1.481270 |label=<div style="font-size:80%;">Barnsley FC</div> |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=left }} {{location map~ |Europe |lat= 48.690781 |long= 6.182460 |label=<div style="font-size:80%;">AS Nancy</div> |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=left }} {{location map~ |Europe |lat= 51.225159 |long= 2.913830|label=<div style="font-size:80%;">K.V. Oostende</div> |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=left }} {{location map~ |Europe |lat= 46.752571 |long= 7.623430 |label=<div style="font-size:80%;">FC Thun</div> |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=left }} {{location map~ |Europe |lat= 55.4765 |long= 8.4594 |label=<div style="font-size:80%;">Esbjerg fB</div> |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=right }} {{location map~ |Europe |lat= 43.703430 |long= 7.266270 |label=<div style="font-size:80%;">OGC Nice</div> |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=right }} {{location map~ |Europe |lat= 51.2701 |long= 5.5964 |label=<div style="font-size:80%;">FC Den Bosch</div> |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=right }} {{location map~ |Europe |lat=49.440067 |long= 7.749126 |label=<div style="font-size:80%;">1. FC Kaiserslautern</div> |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=right }} {{location map~ |Europe |lat=50.0725 |long= 18.5912 |label=<div style="font-size:80%;">GKS Tychy</div> |mark=Blue pog.svg |position=right }} }}
Lee’s initial investment in professional sports began with the acquisition of the French football club OGC Nice in June 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chinagoabroad.com/en/recent_transaction/chinese-american-investors-acquire-french-football-club-nice |title=American investors acquire French football club Nice |access-date=2020-01-13 |archive-date=2016-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917022326/http://www.chinagoabroad.com/en/recent_transaction/chinese-american-investors-acquire-french-football-club-nice |url-status=dead }}</ref> In September 2016, he entered advanced takeover discussions with Hull City FC owner Assem Allam;<ref>[https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/chien-lee-linked-hull-city-947841 "Chien Lee, linked with Hull City takeover, completes purchase of Championship rival"]</ref><ref>[https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/hull-city-begin-takeover-talks-8824741 "Hull City begin takeover talks with new consortium fronted by Chinese American businessman Chien Lee"]</ref> however, the bid was formally withdrawn in November of that year. He subsequently made an offer to acquire Middlesbrough FC, which was declined by owner Steve Gibson in January 2017.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/24/steve-gibson-chinese-investment-middlesbrough "Steve Gibson rejects £50m Chinese investment offer for Middlesbrough "]</ref>
In April 2017, Lee held discussions with Brentford FC owner Matthew Benham regarding a potential acquisition. His reported interest in the club was linked to its London location and planned stadium development.<ref>[https://www.ft.com/content/369a7a94-2030-11e7-a454-ab04428977f9 "China-linked investors target stake in Brentford football club -The Financial Times"]</ref><ref>[https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11748/10836873/chien-lee-in-talks-to-buy-50-per-cent-stake-in-brentford "Chien Lee in talks to buy 50 per cent stake in Brentford"- Skysports]</ref> In December 2017, Lee completed the acquisition of Barnsley FC from the Cryne family.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/barnsley-fc-consortium-chien-lee-moneyball-billy-beane-a8118686.html "Barnsley confirm takeover by consortium led by Chien Lee and ‘Moneyball’ pioneer Billy Beane"]</ref>
In June 2019, Lee attempted to acquire Partick Thistle FC.<ref>[https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/17724215.after-partick-thistle-takeover-businessman-predicts-more-us-owners-in-scottish-game/ "After Partick Thistle takeover, businessman predicts more US owners in Scottish game"]</ref> In November 2019, he invested in FC Thun.<ref name="FC Thun Football Club">[https://fcthun.ch/de/welcome191126/FC-Thun-Bernese-Oberland-and-PMG "FC Thun Football Club"]</ref> In January 2020, he was reported to be among the parties interested in acquiring KV Oostende, competing with David Blitzer.<ref>[https://www.web24.news/2020/01/a-new-american-buyer-for-the-kv-oostende.html"A new American buyer for the KV Oostende"]</ref><ref>[https://www.tijd.be/ondernemen/sport/nieuwe-amerikaanse-koper-voor-kv-oostende/10199610.html"Nieuwe Amerikaanse koper voor KV Oostende"]</ref>
After selling OGC Nice to Jim Ratcliffe in August 2019, Lee sought to re-enter the French football market. Already holding interests in Barnsley FC and FC Thun, he explored several opportunities before entering exclusive negotiations in March 2020 to acquire Toulouse FC.<ref>[https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2020/toulouse-in-exclusive-negotiations-to-be-bought-by-ex-ogc-nice-owner-chien-lee/ "Toulouse in exclusive negotiations to be bought by ex-OGC Nice owner Chien Lee"]</ref><ref name="sportwitness.co.uk"/>
In May 2020, Lee completed an investment in KV Oostende Football Club.<ref>[https://www.kvo.be/nieuws/meer-info-over-nieuwe-investeerders-focus-op-jonge-beloftevolle-spelers"New investors for KV Oostende FC"]</ref><ref>[https://sporza.be/nl/2020/05/12/chinese-investeerder-we-zagen-kv-oostende-als-een-opportuniteit~1589298279802/ "Chinese investor: We saw KV Ostend as an opportunity"]</ref> He continued to pursue the acquisition of Toulouse FC, reportedly competing with Michael Dell and his investment firm MSD Capital. <ref>[https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2020/olivier-sadran-is-in-talks-with-michael-dell-about-selling-him-toulouse-chien-lee-makes-ultimatum-on-his-offer/ “Olivier Sadran is in talks with Michael Dell about selling him Toulouse; Chien Lee makes ultimatum on his offer”]</ref><ref>[https://boards.footymad.net/showthread.php?t=38261814"Chien Lee issues Toulouse ultimatum"]</ref> In July 2020, Lee also sought to acquire SV Mattersburg.<ref>[https://ungarnheute.hu/news/sv-mattersburg-orbans-freund-meszaros-soll-einsteigen-81772/"sv-mattersburg-orbans-freund-meszaros-soll-einsteigen"]</ref> in December 2020, following another unsuccessful attempt to acquire Toulouse FC, Lee shifted his focus to AS Nancy Lorraine, where he competed with City Football Group, owner of Manchester City F.C.. He subsequently completed the acquisition of AS Nancy Lorraine, marking his return to French football.<ref>[https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/city-football-group-as-nancy-takeover-talks “City Football Group eyeing up AS Nancy takeover”]</ref><ref>[https://www.asnl.net/58/actualites/actualites/fiche/27360 “ AS Nancy Lorraine statement”]</ref>
In early February 2021, media reports indicated that Lee was in the process of acquiring Esbjerg fB,<ref>[http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2021/02/05/denmarks-esbjerg-fb-becomes-latest-pacific-media-led-acquisition/ “Denmark’s Esbjerg fB becomes latest Pacific Media-led acquisition”]</ref> while also holding discussions with FC Den Bosch regarding a potential takeover.<ref>[https://www.bd.nl/fc-den-bosch/maken-amerikaanse-dollars-fc-den-bosch-great-again~a7272c6c/ “Maken Amerikaanse dollars FC Den Bosch ‘great again’?”]</ref> In March 2021, Lee completed the investment in Esbjerg fB.<ref>[https://efb.dk/majoritetsaktionaer-paa-plads-i-efb-elite-a-s/ "Majority shareholder in place in EfB Elite A/S"]</ref>
In April 2021, reports indicated that Lee’s football group was exploring opportunities to invest in German football, including approaching several clubs to assess potential alignment and investment prospects.<ref>[https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/u-s-money-men-eye-profit-in-germany-s-fan-first-soccer-leagues “U.S. Investors Eye Profit in Germany's Soccer Leagues – Bloomberg”]</ref> In September 2021, Lee completed the investment in FC Den Bosch,<ref name="netherlandsnewslive.com"/> representing one of the early multi-club ownership arrangements in the Netherlands.<ref>[http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2021/09/06/pacific-media-completes-7th-club-deal-den-bosch-acquisition/ "Pacific Media completes 7th club deal with Den Bosch acquisition"]</ref>
In March 2022, Lee together with a group of U.S. investors completed their investment in 1. FC Kaiserslautern.<ref name="bloombergquint.com"/> The following month, reports indicated that he was considering the acquisition of Lechia Gdańsk.<ref>[https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2022/nancy-owners-looking-to-buy-polish-club-lechia-gdansk/ "NANCY OWNERS LOOKING TO BUY POLISH CLUB LECHIA GDAŃSK"]</ref> In July 2022, media reported that Lee was in discussions to invest in Hellas Verona F.C., which plays in Serie A of the Italian football league.<ref>[https://tggialloblu.telenuovo.it/hellas-verona/2022/07/27/il-fondo-pacific-media-group-vuole-quote-del-verona-hanno-anche-il-10-del-kaiserlautern "The Pacific Media Group fund wants shares in Verona. They also have 10% of the Kaiserslautern"]</ref> In April 2023, Lee invested GKS Tychy FC, a professional football club based in Tychy, Poland. <ref name="silesion.pl"/> [[File:Chien Lee at Allianz Riviera Stadium.jpg|thumb|left|250px| Lee at the Allianz Riviera stadium in 2018 with Mefi, the eagle of OGC Nice and the club’s official mascot.]]
Lee is an investor who played a role in changing the fortunes of several European football clubs across the continent.<ref name="Sportico"/> As chairman, his 2016 investment in OGC Nice led the club to its first UEFA Champions League qualification by 2018.<ref name="cnn.com">[https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/08/football/ogc-nice-jean-pierre-rivre-champions-league “OGC Nice: From Ligue 1 strugglers to Champions League challengers- CNN”]</ref> His involvement with FC Kaiserslautern began in March 2022, when the club was in Germany’s third division. That same year, they achieved promotion to the second division of German football, the 2. Bundesliga,<ref name="bulinews.com">[https://bulinews.com/news/12787/hanslik-hercher-and-raab-ensure-kaiserslautern-promotion-2-bundesliga “Hanslik, Hercher, and Raab ensure Kaiserslautern promotion to 2. Bundesliga”]</ref> and by 2024, they had reached their first German Cup final in 21 years.<ref name="Veth">{{Cite web |last=Veth |first=Manuel |title=More Than An Underdog? Meet DFB Pokal Finalist Kaiserslautern |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/manuelveth/2024/05/19/more-than-an-underdog-meet-dfb-pokal-finalist-kaiserslautern/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
Lee’s 2019 investment in FC Thun helped the then–second-division side win the 2024–25 Swiss Challenge League title, earning promotion to the top-tier Swiss Super League on May 2, 2025.<ref name="bluewin.ch"/> on May 3, 2026, the newly promoted team went on to win the Swiss Super League championship with the second-lowest squad market value, securing the first major honour in its 128-year history. ''The New York Times'' described it as arguably this season’s greatest European football story. <ref name="FC Thun NY Times">{{cite news|access-date=May 3, 2026|last=Raghuraman |first=Anantaajith |date=2026-05-03 |title= In the 128 years of their existence, this tiny Swiss club had never won a trophy — until now|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7246732/2026/05/03/fc-thun-switzerland-title-champions/|work=The New York Times|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="FC Thun BBC Sport">{{cite news|access-date=April 3, 2026|last=Brotherton |first=Alex |date=2026-04-03 |title= The 'Swiss Leicester' closing on their first title|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c0433176p6zo|work=BBC Sport |language=en-US}}</ref> [[File:Chien Lee at the FC Thun Stadium.jpg|thumb|right|250px| Lee at the Stockhorn Arena in April 2026 to witness FC Thun on the verge of winning the Swiss Super League championship title.]]
During Lee's tenure as co-Chairman, Barnsley F.C. recorded a promotion to the Championship as runners-up in 2018-19, and reached the Championship play-offs in 2020-21.<ref name="tribuna.com">[https://tribuna.com/en/league/league-one/table/2018-2019/ “English League One Table - 2018/2019”]</ref><ref name="Buckingham">{{Cite news |last=Buckingham |first=Philip |date=2021-05-16 |title=Barnsley's Mads Andersen: 'I don't care if other teams are scared of us' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2585435/2021/05/16/barnsleys-mads-andersen-i-dont-care-if-other-teams-are-scared-of-us/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2021, Lee invested in AS Nancy Lorraine amid the club’s struggles in French football and became its chairman. The club subsequently experienced multiple relegations and an administrative demotion. Lee initiated a restructuring of the organization, which led to a return to the Championnat National in 2024 and culminated in winning the Championnat National title, securing promotion to Ligue 2 on May 2, 2025.<ref>[https://c.estrepublicain.fr/sport/2025/05/18/la-place-stanislas-en-rouge-et-blanc-aux-couleurs-de-l-as-nancy-lorraine"The Place Stanislas in red and white, in the colours of AS Nancy Lorraine"]</ref><ref>[https://c.estrepublicain.fr/sport/2023/08/09/les-trois-choses-a-retenir-de-la-lettre-ouverte-publiee-par-les-actionnaires-de-l-as-nancy-lorraine-krishen-sud-et-chien-lee"AS Nancy Lorraine: the three things to remember from the open letter published by Krishen Sud and Chien Lee"]</ref> {{multiple image | align = right | direction = horizontal | width = 180 | total_width = 380 | image1 = FC Thun crowned champions of Swiss Challenge League 1.jpg | image2 = Nancy FC crowned champions 2024-25.jpg | caption_align = center | footer = On May 2, 2025, FC Thun were crowned champions of the Swiss Challenge League and AS Nancy Lorraine were crowned champions of the Championnat National on the same day. | footer_align = centre | alt1 = }}
===Moneyball approach=== Lee’s football strategy has been described by the ''Financial Times'' and ''The Wall Street Journal'' as an adaptation of the “Moneyball” approach within European soccer.<ref name="ft.com"/><ref name="wsj.com"/> The concept of “Moneyball” originates from ''Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game'' (2003), a book by Michael Lewis about the Oakland Athletics and their general manager Billy Beane. The book describes the team’s use of statistical analysis and sabermetrics to assemble a competitive roster despite limited financial resources. A film adaptation was released in 2011.<ref>[https://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/Michael-Lewis-on-A-s-Moneyball-legacy-2309126.php “Michael Lewis on A's 'Moneyball'legacy”]</ref> Lee’s model applies similar principles to football. It emphasizes data-driven decision-making in place of traditional scouting, prioritizes the recruitment and development of younger players, and focuses on acquiring players and coaches suited to a high-press tactical system.<ref>[https://sports.yahoo.com/moneyball-gives-billy-beane-backed-095504151.html “Moneyball Gives Billy Beane-Backed Barnsley a Premier League Shot”]</ref>
===Investment style=== Lee applied investment strategies to European football, focusing on clubs in lower divisions where promotion and relegation systems can create opportunities for value growth. His approach included implementing management changes and operational adjustments intended to improve performance, with the possibility of promotion to higher tiers and associated increases in revenue and competitiveness. He also pursued investments in financially distressed clubs, aiming to restructure both their business operations and sporting organizations.<ref>[https://www.sportspromedia.com/analysis/football-club-owner-guide-american-investors-private-equity-jordan-gardner “An expert’s guide to owning a European soccer club - part one: Identifying the opportunity”]</ref><ref>[https://theconversation.com/football-in-europe-is-being-transformed-by-us-private-equity-firms-heres-how-157445 “Football in Europe is being transformed by US private equity firms – here’s how”]</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">[https://www.wsj.com/articles/barnsley-championship-promotion-moneyball-billy-beane-11621176691 “A Moneyball Experiment in English Soccer’s Second Tier – WSJ”]</ref>
Lee has been described as employing a data-driven approach to player and coaching recruitment, with an emphasis on identifying and developing young talent.<ref name="Sportico"></ref> His clubs are also associated with adopting high-pressing styles of play. Financial sustainability is a stated objective, with efforts to balance operating budgets alongside sporting performance.<ref name="ReferenceA">[https://www.ft.com/content/a2724840-9851-4900-b331-e4be9247f7ed “Barnsley’s dream team give football club sporting chance -Financial Times”]</ref><ref name="The New York Times">{{cite news|access-date=April 22, 2021|last=Slater |first=Matt |date=2021-04-22 |title= From Barnsley to Belgium, the club owners taking on the elite with data, pressing and young players|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2479880/2021/04/03/from-barnsley-to-belgium-the-club-owners-taking-on-the-elite-with-data-pressing-and-young-players/|work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref>
According to the Sportico, Lee is an early mover in investing in lower-division developmental clubs in European football, positioning himself to capitalize on future growth and value creation in the sport.<ref name="Sportico">{{cite news|access-date=January 11, 2022|last=Pelit|first=Asli|date=2022-01-11|title=Soccer Investors Eye Developmental Clubs, Transfer Fees to Cash In|url=https://www.sportico.com/business/finance/2022/investors-eye-developmental-clubs-transfer-fees-to-cash-in-1234658094/|work= Sportico|language=en-US}}</ref>
===OGC Nice=== [[File:STADE ALLIANZ RIVIERA NICE, FRANCE - WILMOTTE.png|thumb|right| OGC Nice Stadium Allianz Riviera, The stadium hosted UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.]] In June 2016, Lee acquired French football club OGC Nice and became its chairman and co-owner.<ref>[http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11713/11177437/barnsley-taken-over-by-consortium-headed-by-chien-lee-and-paul-conway "Barnsley taken over by consortium headed by Chien Lee and Paul Conway"], ''www.skysports.com'' 19 December 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/2017/december/club-statement/ "Barnsley Football Club Statement"], "www.barnsleyfc.co.uk"</ref><ref>[https://www.monaco-tribune.com/en/2019/06/jim-ratcliffe-has-made-an-offer-for-ogc-nice/ “Jim Ratcliffe has made an offer for OGC Nice”]</ref><ref>[https://www.businessinsider.in/slideshows/miscellaneous/pro-sports-teams-are-worth-more-than-ever-see-which-teams-have-been-sold-and-how-much-billionaires-are-paying-for-them/slidelist/65168967.cms “Pro sports teams are worth more than ever - see which teams have been sold and how much billionaires are paying for them”]</ref> During his first year of ownership, the club invested in a new training and academy facility focused on youth development, appointed Lucien Favre as manager,<ref>[https://www.ogcnice.com/fr/actualite/26979/favre-nouvel-entraineur-de-logc-nice “FAVRE NOUVEL ENTRAÎNEUR DE L'OGC NICE”]</ref> and signed Italian forward Mario Balotelli from Liverpool F.C <ref>[https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37190434"Mario Balotelli: Nice sign Liverpool striker for free"]</ref> During this period, the team qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time.<ref>[https://www.eurosport.com/football/barnsley-taken-over-by-consortium-led-by-chinese-investor_sto6449695/story.shtml"Barnsley taken over by consortium led by Chinese investor"]</ref> In June 2018, Lee appointed former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira as OGC Nice manager.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/11/patrick-vieira-nice-manager-new-york-city"Patrick Vieira named new Nice manager after leaving New York City FC "]</ref>
In August 2019, Lee sold OGC Nice to Ineos, a company controlled by British businessman Jim Ratcliffe.<ref>[https://www.ft.com/content/fb3abbfc-c849-11e9-a1f4-3669401ba76f "Ineos acquires French Ligue 1 football club Nice"],"www.ft.com"</ref> <ref>[https://global.espn.com/football/nice/story/3910120/sources-nice-sale-to-uk-tycoon-surpasses-psg “Nice sale to UK tycoon surpasses PSG”] "www.espn.com"</ref>
===Barnsley F.C.=== In December 2017, Lee acquired English football team Barnsley F.C. with a group of international investors and became the co-owner.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/19/barnsley-consortium-takeover-nice-owner-chien-lee-billy-beane " Moneyball comes to Barnsley as group including Billy Beane seals takeover "], ''www. Reds theguardian.com'' 19 December 2017</ref> Lee was joined by "Moneyball" pioneer Billy Beane in the acquisition. The club adopted a high pressing style of football, began using a data-oriented approach to identify talents, and focused on signing young players.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/armstrongpaul/2018/02/01/football-crazy-why-a-chinese-american-investor-brought-moneyball-to-a-sleepy-english-town/#47ae55195fb3 "Football Crazy: Why A Chinese-American Investor Brought Moneyball To A Sleepy English Town"], ''www.forbes.com''</ref><ref>[https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2111342/chinese-magnate-and-moneyball-maven-set-purchase-lower-league-english "Chinese magnate and 'Moneyball' maven set to purchase lower league English soccer team together"], ''www.scmp.com''</ref><ref>[https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/meet-barnsleys-chien-lee-chinese-14172263 "Meet Barnsley's Chien Lee, the Chinese owner with a different approach to Aston Villa's Tony Xia"], ''www.birminghammail.co.uk''</ref>
===FC Thun=== [[File:FC Thun players and fans celebrated the club’s championship title.jpg|right|250px|thumb| On May 3 2026, FC Thun players and fans celebrated the club’s first Swiss Super League championship title on Town Hall Square in Thun.]]
In November 2019, Lee became a co-owner and investor in FC Thun, a Swiss football team from the Bernese Oberland town of Thun. according to BBC Sport, investments from Lee and board member Beat Fahrni saved the club from extinction on several occasions, most recently in early 2024.<ref name="FC Thun BBC Sport"></ref>
On May 2, 2025, Thun secured champions of 2024–25 Swiss Challenge League and promotion to Swiss Super League the highest level of the Swiss football league system.<ref name="bluewin.ch">{{Cite web |title=Thun promoted after victory over Aarau |url=https://www.bluewin.ch/en/index/thun-promoted-after-victory-over-aarau-2677660.html |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=blue News |language=en}}</ref>
On May 3, 2026, the newly promoted team immediately went on to win the Swiss Super League championship, securing the first major honour in their entire 128-year history.<ref name=" FC Thun NY Times "></ref> BBC Sport described it as one of the most remarkable achievements in European football history, <ref name="FC Thun BBC Sport"></ref>
===AS Nancy Lorraine=== [[File:AS Nancy Lorraine Match-3.jpg|thumb|right|250px|AS Nancy players celebrate a goal in the home match against Le Mans FC.]] In August 2019, Lee acquired French club AS Nancy on 31 December 2020 and became the Chairman of board and co-owner.<ref name="c.estrepublicain.fr"/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070208135938/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind%3D64/newsid%3D500491.html “Platini elected”]</ref> and Arsène Wenger started his managerial career at Nancy in 1984.<ref>[https://arsespeak.com/2011/02/07/arsene-wenger-the-nancy-years/ “Arsène Wenger: The Nancy Years”]</ref>
===Esbjerg fB=== In March 2021, Lee became an investor in Esbjerg fB, a professional football club based in Esbjerg, Denmark, the 6th European football club Lee invested in. Lee was attracted to the club's impressive history, strong youth academy, and the passionate fans and sponsors. He intended to focus on talented young players using his proven data and analysis platform.<ref name="efb.dk"/>
===FC Den Bosch=== In September 2021, Lee became an investor in FC Den Bosch, a Dutch professional football club based 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, Lee's 7th European football club investment.<ref name="netherlandsnewslive.com"/>
===1. FC Kaiserslautern=== [[File:2019147191240 2019-05-27 Fussball 1.FC Kaiserslautern vs FC Bayern München - Sven - 1D X MK II - 0478 - AK8I2091.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The home game between FC Kaiserslautern and rivals Bayern Munich at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion.]]
In March 2022, Lee became a minority shareholder of 1. FC Kaiserslautern,<ref name="bloombergquint.com"/> one of Germany's legendary clubs, based in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate. Founded in 1900 as FC Palatia Kaiserslautern and as a founding member of the Bundesliga, the club won the German championship on four occasions and the German Cup twice. 1. FC Kaiserslautern is historically among the most successful football clubs in Germany, occupying 11th place in the all-time Bundesliga table.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=Miracle of Kaiserslautern: The Only Promoted Team to Win the Bundesliga - Get German Football News |url=https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2025/miracle-of-kaiserslautern-the-only-promoted-team-to-win-the-bundesliga/ |access-date=2026-03-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> The club, however, found itself in serious trouble in recent years, and was relegated to the second division for the second time in 2006. In 2018 the club was relegated to the third tier for the first time in club history.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/manuelveth/2018/12/20/kaiserslautern-german-football/?sh=25f0684d722c “1.FC Kaiserslautern - The Fall Of A Former Bundesliga Giant Continues”]“www.forbes.com”</ref> Lee pursued the investment in 1. FC Kaiserslautern as a long-term project in cooperation with club management, fans, and local partners to achieve a return to growth and success for the club.<ref>[https://www.t-online.de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/id_91236656/us-investor-chien-lee-will-mehrere-fussball-bundesligisten-uebernehmen.html “US investor wants to join Bundesliga clubs”]“www.t-online.de”</ref>
On May 24, 2022, during Lee's first year of investment, FC Kaiserslautern earned promotion back to the 2. Bundesliga.<ref name="bulinews.com"/> On May 25, 2024, Kaiserslautern reached the German Cup final (2024 DFB-Pokal final) for the first time in 21 years.<ref>[https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/saarbrucken-kaiserslautern-dfb-cup-semi-final-live-match-blog-preview-report-26749"Kaiserslautern beat Saarbrücken to reach DFB Cup final”]</ref>
===GKS Tychy=== In April 2023, Lee together with The Seelig Group acquired GKS Tychy FC, a Polish professional football club, based in Tychy, that plays in the Polish I Liga. The club was founded in 1971. It is Lee's 9th European football club investment.<ref name="silesion.pl"/>
==Hotel industry== In 2014, Lee invested in Asian Coast Development (Canada) Ltd., the developer of The Grand Ho Tram Strip in Vietnam, one of the region's largest integrated resorts. In a 2014 interview with Forbes, Lee described the Ho Tram Strip as a “hidden diamond,” and remarked that tourism is one of the most important driving forces for Vietnam's economic development.<ref>[http://www.casinolifemagazine.com/news/acdl-adds-new-investor-ho-tram-strip-project "ACDL adds new investor to Ho Tram Strip project"], ''www.casinolifemagazine.com''</ref><ref name="Forbes Ho Tram"/> Investors in the Ho Tram Strip included Warburg Pincus and Harbinger Capital. The first phase of the Ho Tram Strip development includes The Grand Ho Tram Resort & Casino, a 5-star hotel and resort, international conference center, and heliport which opened in July 2013, as well as The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip, a links-style golf course which opened in October 2014.<ref>[https://www.asgam.com/index.php/2019/03/17/the-grand-ho-tram-in-vietnam-targeted-for-acquisition-by-warburg-pincus/“The Grand Ho Tram in Vietnam targeted for acquisition by Warburg Pincus”]</ref><ref>[http://asiancoastdevelopment.com/ “ACDL”]</ref>
In 2005 Lee co-founded 7 Days Inn, one of the largest budget hotel chains in China. Lee saw tourism and the emergence of a newly rich middle class fueling the travel boom, while China has become one of the world's most-watched tourist markets.<ref name="chinaeconomicreview.com"/> In 2006, Warburg Pincus invested in 7 Days Inn. In 2007, Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, and Warburg Pincus further invested in the hotel chain; in September 2009, 7 Days Inn was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: SVN).<ref>[https://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinas-7-days-inn-gets-95-mln-from-three-foreign-investors “China's 7 Days Inn gets $95 mln from three foreign investors”]</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/sevendays/update-1-china-hotel-chain-7-days-ipo-prices-at-top-of-range-idUSN1912317620091119 “China hotel chain 7 Days IPO prices at top of range”]</ref> The hotel chain has grown from five hotels in two cities in 2005 to 283 hotels in 41 cities when it was listed. In July 2013, the founders,, together with Carlyle Group and Sequoia Capital took 7 Days Inn private to form holding company Plateno Hotels Group.<ref>[https://www.chinadailyasia.com/leaders/2016-06/27/content_15454598.html " Nice way to keep eyes on the goal"], ''www.chinadailyasia.com'' 27 June 2016</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-7days-offer/carlyle-led-consortium-agrees-to-buy-7-days-for-688-million-idUSBRE92004X20130301 "Carlyle-led consortium agrees to buy 7 Days for $688 million"], "www.reuters.com"</ref><ref>[https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4061369.html "7 Days Group Holdings Limited Announces Completion of Merger"], "www.hospitalitynet.org"</ref> In 2015, Jinjiang Hotels bought 81% of 7 Days Inn. By the end of 2019, 7 Days Inn had 4,700 hotels in 450 cities.<ref>[https://www.hotelmanagement.net/transactions/china-s-jin-jiang-buys-controlling-stake-budget-7-days “China's Jin Jiang buys controlling stake in budget 7 Days”]</ref><ref>[https://www.platenogroup.com/pages/group/?lang=en "Plateno Group"],"www.platenogroup.com"</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{twitter|NewCityChienLee}} * [https://www.forbes.com/sites/armstrongpaul/2018/02/01/football-crazy-why-a-chinese-american-investor-brought-moneyball-to-a-sleepy-english-town/#557ce5425fb3/ Chien Lee- Forbes] * [https://www.ogcnice.com/fr/article/32953/chien-lee-we-aim-high.html Chien Lee- Interview] {{AS Nancy}} {{1. FC Kaiserslautern}} {{Barnsley F.C.}} {{Esbjerg}} {{OGC Nice}} {{Hotel chains}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Chien}} Category:Living people Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:American investors Category:American soccer chairmen and investors Category:Chinese football chairmen and investors Category:Chinese businesspeople Category:Sports businesspeople Category:English football chairmen and investors Category:Chairmen and investors of football clubs in France Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American hoteliers Category:Hotel founders