England’s Real Madrid football star Jude Bellingham has expanded his footprint into cricket by acquiring a minority stake in the Birmingham Phoenix, a team in The Hundred, marking a notable crossover investment.
The Real Madrid midfielder, who was born in Stourbridge and raised in Birmingham, has purchased a 1.2% share in the franchise.
The stake has been split evenly between Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Knighthead Capital Management. Knighthead is already a major investor in the team and also owns Birmingham City FC.
Following the transaction, Warwickshire retains majority control with a 50.4% stake, while Knighthead now holds 48.4%.
The investment strengthens Birmingham Phoenix’s local identity, with Jude Bellingham becoming one of the most high-profile athletes to invest in The Hundred.
Despite his global football commitments, the 22-year-old has consistently expressed his interest in cricket. He played junior cricket at Hagley Cricket Club during his teenage years and has spoken about his admiration for the sport. He has also mentioned Ben Stokes as the athlete he would choose to swap careers with for a day.
Speaking after the deal was confirmed, Bellingham emphasized his strong connection to Birmingham and his desire to give back to the community.
“I love Birmingham. I’m very grateful for what the whole city of Birmingham has done for me. I love cricket as well, so when I got the opportunity to get involved, I didn’t really think twice about it, so I’m so happy to be on board,” he said.
“I’m so grateful to Birmingham, the Stourbridge area and the West Midlands as a whole. I got the best upbringing into football, into life through Birmingham City. I feel like I owe the city something. Right now, it’s difficult with how busy I am with football, but if there’s a way in which I can help then I want to and this feels like a good way.”
Beyond the financial investment, Jude Bellingham is expected to contribute to community engagement and social initiatives.
Warwickshire stated that he will support projects aimed at increasing sports participation across Birmingham, particularly among young people.
“I think it’s so important to get kids out there playing sports. I think it’s crucial and the opportunity of me being a part of Birmingham Phoenix is to try and help people realize there’s different avenues,” he added.
“Some people will enjoy football, some will enjoy cricket, it’s about creating opportunities.”
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