Michael Essien's wife, Akosua Puni buys Italian club for €237,000

The wife of Ghanaian football star Michael Essien, Mrs Akosua Puni has bought Italian third division Lega Pro side Calcio Como.

Mrs Puni Essien, a British citizen of Ghanaian origin bought the club for €237,000 at a bankruptcy auction held by FC Como Limited. The figure was €10,000 more than the starting price.

A press statement published on the club's website confirmed that it is now owned by Mrs Essien and has been renamed FC Como.

"Mrs. Puni Essien and her team will soon be in our city to meet the fans and supporters of the Club. In the meantime, they intend to let you know that they are honored to be here, in Como, and become part of a club which boasts 110 years of history," the release stated.

Mrs Akosua Puni Essien 

The bankruptcy trustee disclosed that in recent months as many as 31 individuals have come forward asking for information about purchasing the cash-strapped team.

They included Chinese, Indian, Emirati, Brazilian as well as various Italian entrepreneurs but Mrs Puni Essien beat them with her bid which followed a visit to the stadium and sports center of Como a month ago.

The sale, explained at a press conference by the curator Francesco Di Michele, will be completed by the end of the month and does not include the current brand of Como Orsenigo and the sports center.

Como is currently sixth in the standings in the Pro League, Group A, and is fighting for a place in the playoffs.

Mrs Puni-Essien, 41, was the long-time publicist of former Chelsea and Persib Bandung star Essien before their marriage in 2013.

Her Twitter profile describes her as a "business woman, consultant, philantropist and mother of three lovely kids".

The Ghanaian showbiz personality and socialite is also the head of the Michael Essien Foundation.

Her husband recently joined Indonesian Liga 1 giants Persib Bandung in a deal worth €800,000.