Former Arsenal star who made £10bn after retiring from football open to buying out Stan Kroenke

Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has made a fortune since hanging up his boots

Mathieu Flamini has previously revealed that he would be open to buying Arsenal from the Kroenke family. The former Gunners midfielder has become a billionaire since retiring from football in 2019, reaping the rewards of his hard work in the boardroom.

In 2008, he and Pasquale Granata co-founded GF Biochemicals to 'end chemical pollution'. They produce a chemical that the United States Department of Energy identified as one of the 12 molecules that could unlock a 'greener' future for the world.

Flamini owns more than half of the company, with his net worth said to be in the region of £10billion, according to Forbes, as quoted by the Mirror in November 2025. The finance and business magazine last valued Arsenal at £2.5bn in May 2025, meaning the club is well within his budget.

In an interview with The Athletic back in 2023, Flamini suggested he would be interested in running a club that has a 'special place' in his heart. The Frenchman said: "Football is the number one sport.

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"It is driving so much attention; the hot issues of this world should also be on the agenda of the governing bodies. It’s a world that I belong to.

"If there is the right opportunity at the right time and the right discussion, if I meet people who are the same vision and mindset and desire to use football for a purpose, I would love to.

"Obviously, those clubs [Arsenal and Marseille] have a special place in my heart. I never forget where I come from. In life, you never know, but it’s all about the right opportunity.

"I’m a real believer in the right time, right place, right people. We’ll see what the future is made of. I’m a believer. If you want something very much, the universe usually brings it to you. Let's see what the universe will bring."

Flamini credited Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp for helping him develop such a strong work ethic. Reflecting on his time at Arsenal, the 42-year-old continued: "I learnt to work.

"Work is very important, and they were giving everything in training. Every little game was a fight, every little game was important to win, and since then, I have felt the same. Every game has to be won. The winning mentality is something that I remember well.

"I was very impressed because they were already top players, and it was a chance to be with them every day, play with them and learn from them. I was feeling lucky, but I wanted to be part of that group."

Although Flamini may have built a handsome fortune since hanging up his boots, Stan Kroenke has shown no indication that he's willing to sell Arsenal. Back in May 2021, when the Spotify owner Daniel Ek reportedly considered making an offer, the American billionaire outlined his commitment to the Gunners.

As quoted by the Mirror, it read: "In recent days we have noted media speculation regarding a potential takeover bid for Arsenal Football Club. We remain 100% committed to Arsenal and are not selling any stake in the Club.

"We have not received any offer and we will not entertain any offer. Our ambition for Arsenal remains to compete to win the biggest trophies in the game and our focus remains on improving our competitiveness on the pitch to achieve this."