Jude Bellingham buys 1% stake in Birmingham Phoenix cricket team

England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has purchased a 1% stake in cricket franchise Birmingham Phoenix, becoming one of the latest high-profile footballers to invest in the sport.

According to BBC Sport on Tuesday, the deal, which is expected to be officially confirmed on Wednesday, is valued at around £800,000 and gives the England international a minority ownership position in the The Hundred side.

Birmingham Phoenix competes in The Hundred, the short-format competition introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board to grow the game and attract new audiences.

The franchise has recently undergone significant ownership changes. American investment firm Knighthead Capital Management, which also owns Bellingham’s former club Birmingham City, purchased a 49% stake in Birmingham Phoenix for £48 million, while Warwickshire retained a controlling 51% share through Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

The 21-year-old midfielder, who currently plays for Real Madrid and the England national team, has a known interest in cricket. He played junior cricket at Hagley Cricket Club in Worcestershire, where he developed his early sporting foundation.

Bellingham has also previously expressed admiration for England Test captain Ben Stokes, naming him as the sports star he would most like to swap places with in an interview.

“Probably Ben Stokes,” he said when asked about his sporting role model choice.

The investment group behind the deal also includes NFL legend Tom Brady, highlighting the growing crossover between elite athletes and ownership stakes in global sports franchises.

Bellingham’s move is seen as part of a broader trend of footballers diversifying into sports investments, particularly in franchise-based cricket competitions like The Hundred, which continue to attract international capital and high-profile names.