Real Madrid Star Jude Bellingham Acquires Minority Stake in Birmingham Phoenix Cricket Franchise

Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham buys a 1.2% stake in Birmingham Phoenix cricket. Learn how the star aims to transform community sports in his home city.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 22, 2026, 7:58 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from YSScores

A Homecoming Investment in the West Midlands

In a move that highlights the growing convergence between global football stardom and multi-sport ownership, Jude Bellingham has officially joined the ownership group of Birmingham Phoenix. The Real Madrid midfielder, who was raised in nearby Stourbridge, has acquired a 1.2% equity stake in the franchise that competes in the ECB’s 100-ball tournament, The Hundred. This transaction was facilitated by an equal divestment from the team’s existing primary owners, ensuring that the footballing icon is now a formal partner in the city’s premier cricket venture.

Shifting the Commercial Landscape of The Hundred

The investment comes as The Hundred enters a new era of private capital involvement, with the league seeking to broaden its financial base and global appeal. Following the share transfer, Warwickshire County Cricket Club retains its position as the majority shareholder with a 50.4% stake, while Knighthead Capital Management, the owners of Birmingham City FC, holds 48.4%. By bringing Bellingham on board, the franchise is not only securing a modest injection of capital, estimated at nearly 1 million pounds, but also gaining an unparalleled marketing asset whose influence extends across the sporting world.

Focusing on Grassroots Growth and Social Equity

Bellingham has emphasized that his primary motivation for entering the boardroom is philanthropic rather than purely commercial. His involvement is specifically tied to community engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives designed to increase sports participation in underserved areas of the West Midlands. According to the player, the goal is to utilize his platform to ensure that local children have the same access to diverse sporting avenues that he enjoyed during his youth, where he actively participated in both cricket and football.