Bellingham Invests in Birmingham Hundred Franchise
England and Real Madrid footballer Jude Bellingham has acquired a 1.2% ownership stake in the cricket team Birmingham Phoenix.
The Edgbaston-based franchise is one of the eight Hundred teams that were offered for sale last year. American investment firm Knighthead Capital Management, which also owns Bellingham's former football club Birmingham City, purchased a 49% stake in the team for £40 million. Warwickshire County Cricket Club retained a 51% share.
Bellingham purchased 0.6% from both Knighthead and Warwickshire, resulting in Warwickshire maintaining majority control with 50.4% ownership.
The transaction, valued at nearly £1 million, is expected to be officially confirmed on Wednesday.
At 22 years old, Bellingham is a cricket enthusiast and played junior cricket for Hagley Cricket Club in Worcestershire.
In an interview last year, when asked which sportsperson he would swap places with, Bellingham responded:
"England Test captain Ben Stokes."
Notably, legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady is also part of the Knighthead investment group.
