England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has purchased a 1.2% ownership stake in the Birmingham Phoenix cricket franchise. The deal, valued at approximately £1m, is scheduled for official confirmation on Wednesday.
The Edgbaston-based team is among the eight franchises in The Hundred that were put up for sale last year. American investment firm Knighthead Capital Management—which also owns Bellingham’s former football club, Birmingham City—previously secured a 49% stake in the team for £40m.
Under the new agreement, Bellingham acquired 0.6% from Knighthead Capital and 0.6% from Warwickshire County Cricket Club. Following the transaction, Warwickshire remains the majority owner with a 50.4% share.
Bellingham, 22, has a personal history with the sport, having played junior cricket for Hagley Cricket Club in Worcestershire. The midfielder joins a high-profile investment group at Knighthead that includes legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady.
When asked in an interview last year which sportsperson he would swap places with, Bellingham stated he “would swap places with England Test captain Ben Stokes.”