LOS ANGELES – Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores has agreed to buy a limited stake in the Chargers, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday.

Gores has reached an agreement to purchase 27% of the franchise, including 24% owned by Dea Spanos Berberian and 1% owned by the three other Spanos siblings, Dean, Michael and Alexis Spanos Ruhl. The deal requires final approval from NFL owners and a source told ESPN it is expected to be on the agenda at NFL league meetings in Atlanta next month.

According to a source, the siblings each agreed to sell 1% for estate planning purposes. The NFL and the Chargers declined to comment.

Sports Business Journal first reported the deal on Friday.

The sale would end a turbulent few years for the Spanos family. Berberian filed multiple lawsuits dating back to 2021, including one aimed at forcing the sale of the Chargers. However, according to a source, as part of that deal, Berberian agreed to drop her lawsuits against the Chargers and Dean Spanos.

As part of this transaction, Dean Spanos will continue to retain full control of the franchise. Spanos and his two siblings will own 69% of the team. The remaining 4% of chargers belong to non-family members.

This would be the second sports franchise Gores has a stake in, having purchased the Pistons in 2011 along with his private equity firm Platinum Equity. In 2015, Gores bought out Platinum Equity’s shares in the Pistons and became sole owner.

The Chargers deal will be a personal investment for Gores, a source told ESPN, and not part of Platinum Equity. Gores will have no managerial rights over the team as part of the deal.

This is the first known agreed-upon potential transaction since the league approved the use of private equity firms to acquire up to 10% of passive interests in franchises in August. However, this is not a deal involving a private equity firm.

Alex Spanos purchased the San Diego Chargers in 1984 and Dean Spanos took over the franchise in 1994. The legal conflict became public in April 2021 when Berberian filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court to sell the trust.

In June 2022, Berberian accused Dean Spanos of “misogynistic” behavior, “property” and repeated “breaches of fiduciary duty” in a lawsuit filed in San Joaquin County Superior Court.

“It is unfortunate that our sister Dea, who clearly has no interest in remaining involved in the family businesses, has made false and provocative accusations in order to impose her will on the rest of the family,” Dean’s families said. Alexis and Michael Spanos said in a statement in 2022. “The three of us and our children, representing more than 75% of the family and their ownership of their businesses, stand united in supporting the wishes of our parents and grandparents, including.” the continued ownership and operation of the Chargers.”

Spanos Ruhl also published a statement in 2022 regarding the allegations that Berberian had made against Dean Spanos.

“The statements made in today’s court filing about my brother Dean Spanos are completely untrue,” the statement said. “Throughout this ordeal, which was instigated without justification by my sister Dea Berberian, my brother Dean has always treated me and my wishes with respect. And he, along with my brother Michael and I, fought to make our wishes come true.” “It’s just not right to label Dean as someone who doesn’t show the women in our family the respect they deserve.”