The US Stars Falling For The Beautiful Game
With a 2026 US World Cup on the horizon, interest piquing in football of the English variety is probably to be expected over in the States.
But since Rob and Ryan’s fairytale story with Wrexham, more and more of America’s A-Listers are going one step further and putting their money where their mouth is…
RYAN REYNOLDS & ROB MCELHENNEY
The most high-profile slice of Hollywood to land in our beautiful game is surely the stars of Disney+’s Welcome To Wrexham, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The US actors acquired struggling Welsh football team, Wrexham AFC, for a nominal fee back in 2020, and subsequently invested £2m.
That was quickly followed by a truck load of cameras, some astute use of social media, and some A-List guests in the terraces, resulting in little old Wrexham’s rise to prominence and return to the Football League for the first time in 15 years.
As they say in Wrexham… ‘Less than a mile from the centre of town, a famous old stadium crumbling down, no-one’s invested so much as a penny, bring on the Deadpool and Rob McElhеnneyyyyy!’
TOM BRADY
In 2023, America’s own superstar footballer threw himself into the English game.
Following his second retirement announcement in a year, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady went for one of football’s sleeping giants – Birmingham City.
The greatest QB in history partnered with Knighthead Capital Management LLC to become a minority owner of the one-time League Cup winners and even secured a seat on the Advisory Board as Chairman.
Brady’s impact on the club remains to be seen, but the Blues’ recent appointment of Manchester United all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney as manager suggest all eyes are welcome on this super sport star project.
JJ WATT
Slightly further north, another NFL giant has planted his flag in the Premier League with investment into Vincent Kompany’s Burnley FC.
The Texan decided to go from sacking quarterbacks to supporting Clarets back in May, when he and his wife, former US soccer player Kealia Watt, revealed a minority stake investment.
Like Brady, the couple’s short time at the club means their impact is unclear, but the team has followed in the footsteps of counterparts Wrexham by opening its doors to the film crews with the Sky documentary Mission To Burnley.
JJ himself also popped up on Sky Sports on the Premier League season’s opening. Carragher may have never gone into management, but Watt ensured Jamie got his first sacking…
LEBRON JAMES
NBA G.O.A.T LeBron James is a true trailblazer when it comes to soccer investments.
We have to go all the way back to 2011 to find the start of LeBron’s footballing journey. The man who is no stranger to dribbling through a sea of defenders scored a minority stake in Premier League giants Liverpool FC as part of a sponsorship deal with the Reds’ owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG), and is still a part of the ownership to this day.
The Space Jam star may be regarded as one of basketball’s greats, but Liverpool fans would be forgiven for not holding as much trust in him in their team’s boardroom.
His infamous interview with Peter Crouch in 2022 suggested his knowledge leaves a bit to be desired…
MICHAEL B JORDAN
The next knockout investment comes from Creed star Michael B. Jordan, who surprised the world with his first-ever sports investment – AFC Bournemouth.
Swapping Rocky films for sandy beaches, Jordan leads the minority ownership group that purchased its stake in the Cherries in December 2022 and has since seen his team avoid relegation from the Premier League and spend over £100m in the transfer window.
MICHAEL PHELPS & JORDAN SPEITH
The next US sportsman to dive into the brand-new world of English football was only the most successful and decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps.
The US swimmer dipped into his money pool when he pumped funds into Big League Advantage, the investment group that became a minority owner of Leeds United following the Whites’ takeover by 49ers’ Enterprises in the summer of 2023.
If Phelps wasn’t enough stardust for the fans at Elland Road, golf superstars Jordan Speith and Justin Thomas, NBA basketballer Larry Nance, free agent and former Jacksonville Jaguars NFL linebacker Myles Jack, former University of Arizona basketball player TJ McConnell and hockey stars Erik Johnson and Gabriel Landeskog are all part of the group too…
DUDE PERFECT
For the second time, Burnley FC appears on the list, with YouTube sensations Dude Perfect diving headfirst into Kompany’s Clarets.
The group, made up of Garrett Hilbert, Tyler Toney, Cody Jones and Coby and Cory Cotton, formalised their involvement in the club’s ownership group in 2023, having already been shirt sponsors of the academy teams.
Burnley FC may be known for its gritty style, but maybe now we should expect to see soccer balls launched from helicopters, penalty kicks with a twist, and backflips on the pitch!
MINDY KALING
In one of the more unexpected investments, actor and comic Mindy Kaling has gone from The Office to the boardroom with her commitment to Swansea City FC.
The second Welsh investment on the list saw Kaling land on the south coast with the Swansea.com Stadium becoming her new stage in 2017. Kaling was involved in the US consortium that took a 68% controlling stake of the Swans in 2016. The group also featured filmmaker and Los Angeles Rams co-owner Chip Rosenbloom.
The news was picked up in the British mainstream media too, with Lorraine Kelly quizzing Kaling on the move.
50 CENT
50 Cent is the next star on our list to throw his hat, or maybe his bling, into the football ring with the least known team of all…
Sponsoring of the Wales-based Rumney AFC’s under-14s girls team came about after a parent of one of the players was working with the rapper while he was on tour.
The deal may not be the glitz and glamour associated with some of the Premier League investments, but the rap god is to is sure to add some serious kick to the team, even if it is ‘Just a Lil Bit’!
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