Valletta FC to launch ambitious women’s football project

The proposed initiative, which will operate under the Valletta FC Women structure, aims to create a dedicated pathway for female footballers from grassroots level through to elite competition, while also opening opportunities in coaching, administration, and sports leadership.

The project is being spearheaded by Malta-based entrepreneur John Naudi, owner of the Malta-based PB Group, and Redeem Finance S.p.A., a company already active in women’s football by owning Serie A’s Napoli Femminile, which are set to enter into a 10-year management agreement with Valletta FC.

This landmark partnership introduces a completely independent, autonomous structure dedicated exclusively to the growth, professionalisation, and empowerment of women’s football.

By separating the women’s division from the men’s traditional administration, this initiative establishes a professional sports organisation built from the ground up to serve female athletes.

Valletta FC Women will now operate within a prestigious international multi-club ownership network, which includes AS Monaco in France, Napoli Femminile in Italy, and Molassana Women FC in Genoa, Italy.

This strategic alignment brings unprecedented global reach, elite-level resources, and unparalleled pathways for young Maltese talent.

Demonstrating immediate, actionable execution, the venture has already secured two of Malta’s most respected football professionals to spearhead the technical operations.

Andrea Vella Grech, a highly qualified, experienced young coach with vast expertise in youth academy administration, has formally embarked on the project as chief sport and technical director. 

Joining the project is Charlene Zammit, one of Malta’s most decorated and experienced football players, who has seamlessly transitioned into an elite coach in recent years.

“For too long, women’s football has been forced to accept the unfortunate reality of always coming second within male-dominated club structures,” John Naudi, executive chairman of PB Group told Times of Malta.

“Our investment is designed to break that cycle completely. We are not treating the women’s division as an administrative branch or an afterthought; we are establishing a standalone, heavily capitalized powerhouse.

“This project is about providing female athletes with the same institutional respect, elite resources, and professional focus that their male counterparts have enjoyed for a century.”

 Naudi added that women’s empowerment was key in the project.

“Our objective is to create a setup within which women are empowered from an early age up to the years well beyond their retirement,” Naudi, the chairman of Redeem Finance S.p.A said.

“A sports career is short, but human potential is lifelong. Through our multi-club network, we are building a framework where a young girl can enter our ranks as a child, develop into an international professional, and transition into a qualified coach, sporting director, or club executive within our global network when she retires. We are investing in the woman, not just the football player.”

Valletta FC president Claudio Grech described the initiative as an important milestone not only for the  lub but also for women’s football in Malta.

“For many years, women’s football has grown despite significant limitations in resources and infrastructure,” he said.

“The club went through a massive transformation in just two years and this is the next major step we want to make to create a sporting institution across all football domains.

“We shall present this project to our members for their consideration as we embark on this exciting chapter for the club’s future,” Grech said.

The initiative will also include community programmes aimed at increasing female participation in sport, supporting young athletes and promoting greater visibility for women’s football.

All the project partners are inspired by the belief that Malta has the potential to become a recognised centre for women’s football development in the Mediterranean and hope the project can contribute to a broader shift in how the women’s game is supported and perceived locally.