Soccer-U.S. firm to invest in Rio soccer club Vasco da Gama

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Vasco da Gama v Santos - Estadio Sao Januario, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - December 20, 2020 Vasco da Gama players celebrate after the match REUTERS/Alexandre Loureiro

(Reuters) - Vasco da Gama look set to become the latest Brazilian soccer club to be bought by outside investors on Monday when U.S. investment firm 777 Partners reached a deal to purchase a controlling stake, the Rio club said.

Vasco said the two parties signed a memorandum of understanding that values the club at 1.7 billion reais ($333.1 million) and includes an agreement by the Miami-based company to assume 700 million reais ($137.16 million) in debt.