Vegalta Sendai will transfer ownership of its women’s side to sponsor Mynavi, the J. League club announced Monday, in a decision intended to protect the future of both teams in the wake of the economic impact of the coronavirus.
In a statement, Vegalta cited a steep drop in expected revenue due to the coronavirus, which caused the J. League to suspend its season for four months and has forced clubs to play in front of significantly reduced crowds in an effort to prevent infections.
Mynavi Vegalta Sendai Ladies, which will become known as Mynavi Sendai Ladies from Feb. 1, has applied to join the WE League, Japan’s new professional women’s soccer league that is scheduled to launch in September 2021. The team currently competes in the Nadeshiko League’s first division.