US-based Cantor Fitzgerald is branching out into the sports arena with the creation of Sports Finance Group.

Global financial services group Cantor Fitzgerald has launched a sports-financing group to focus on European soccer teams.

Cantor's Sports Finance Group will be led by a team of corporate and commercial experts in the UK Premier League, European and Football League Clubs. They will be responsible for managing soccer finance deals, including the acquisition of soccer clubs and the funding of player transfers.

"Sports financing is a logical extension of Cantor Fitzgerald Europe's established platform in both equity and debt capital markets,” said Cantor Fitzgerald Europe's co-chief executive officer, Gordon Neilly, in a statement. 

“We believe there is a real opportunity to bring an alternative source of funding to the sports markets, and I am confident that this will be attractive to a significant number of participants, and will help us to further expand our offering in the UK and Europe."

Cantor Fitzgerald currently offers investment banking services, prime brokerage, and commercial real estate financing from 35 locations across the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.