Real Madrid and England’s Jude Bellingham, Minority shareholder in cricket.

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham Invests in Birmingham Phoenix Real Madrid and England Superstar's Business Venture Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid and England midfielder, has ventured into the business side of professional sports by acquiring a stake in the cricket's Hundred franchise, Birmingham Phoenix. At just 22, Bellingham has become a minority shareholder, reflecting his strong ties to the West Midlands, where he first gained prominence during his early years at Birmingham City. His involvement with the franchise coincides with plans for the 2026 cricket season. Returning to His Birmingham Roots Bellingham's connection to Birmingham is well known, especially after Birmingham City retired his number 22 jersey before his moves to Borussia Dortmund and then Real Madrid. Taking a 1.2 percent equity stake in Birmingham Phoenix, Bellingham intends to champion community engagement and social responsibility initiatives. He hopes to leverage his global influence to promote sports participation throughout the West Midlands. Explaining his motivation, Bellingham remarked, "I feel like I owe the city something. And this feels like a good way. When I got the opportunity to get involved, I didn't really think twice about it and I'm so happy to be on board." A Star-Studded Ownership Group Bellingham's investment places him among notable figures in the sports world. Warwickshire County Cricket Club maintains a majority stake of 50.4 percent in Birmingham Phoenix, while the remaining 48.4 percent is owned by Knighthead Capital Management, the proprietors of Birmingham City. This interlinks Bellingham with NFL legend Tom Brady, who is also a minority investor in the football club's parent company. Reflecting on his roots, Bellingham expressed his profound connection to Birmingham City: "For me, Birmingham City are the best team I could have ever come through at and the best team I could have supported. I got the best upbringing into football, into life there," he shared, emphasizing the community spirit within the city. Bellingham's Passion for Cricket Despite his football prowess, Bellingham has always held a passion for cricket. Growing up in Stourbridge, he and his brother Jobe engaged in various sports, including cricket. "We're a competitive pair of lads. Pretty much everything we did ended in scraps and tears, whether it was Monopoly, or football and cricket," he fondly recalled. Bellingham further expressed his admiration for cricket's traditions and elegance: "Cricket is probably my favourite thing to watch outside football. My favourite sport to watch, for sure. I enjoy the Test matches the most, when I can watch it throughout the whole day. There is a certain class and elegance to so many of the things: the toss, for example, and how the captains come out in their blazers and their caps on." With this new venture, Bellingham not only celebrates his love for cricket but also strengthens his commitment to his hometown, paving the way for increased sports participation and community development.