ENIC formally agreed yesterday to buy a majority stake in Greek Cup winners AEK Athens for £9.6 million, the club said. Under the deal, signed yesterday, ENIC - the English National Investment Co - will own 79 percent of the club, AEK owner Michalis Trohanas told reporters.

ENIC agreed in July to acquire a 30 percent stake of Italian Cup winners Vicenza. Bahamas-based millionaire financier Joe Lewis, one of the backers of ENIC, also owns a 25 percent stake in Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers.