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NBA superstar Kevin Durant announced on Monday that he has purchased an ownership stake in Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union. The Brooklyn Nets forward and former NBA MVP has bought an initial five percent stake in the club, with an option to purchase an additional five percent in the future.
The move “just made sense” according to Durant, who twice previously made attempts to join the ownership group of D.C. United.
“I’ve been a fan of the sport, and then seeing how fast the popularity of the league was growing, seeing more fans pop up in different cities around the country, and then seeing how these franchises impact the city’s businesses and people individually was very intriguing,” Durant told ESPN in an exclusive interview.
Whether it is ex-footballers like David Beckham (Inter Miami CF), music icons like Elton John (formerly the chairman of Watford) or dominant athletes in other sports like Durant and LeBron James (Liverpool), club ownership is becoming an increasingly appealing proposition to celebrities. Whether it be a passion for the sport, personal connection, strictly business, or frankly, just because they can, we are seeing more and celebs dipping their toes into football ownership.
In that vein, we looked at 12 other celebrities who have ownership stakes in football clubs around the world.
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1. LeBron James, Liverpool (2%)
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar has won three NBA titles, four MVP awards and been an All-Star 16 times, and also owns a minority stake in Premier League champions-elect Liverpool. The future Hall of Famer bought two percent of the Merseyside club in 2011 for $6.5 million and has that investment paid off! In 2018, Business Insider reported that James’ $6.5 million investment was now worth $32 million. Since then Liverpool have won the Champions League and will soon be crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 30 years, so suffice to say, James has over $32 million reasons to belt out The Fields of Anfield Road!
2. Will Ferrell, Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm, Nomar Garciaparra, LAFC (undisclosed)
LAFC have just begun their third season in MLS but the Los Angeles new boys already have a real Hollywood feel to them. While the majority of the club is owned by local investors Brandon Beck, Larry Berg and Bennett Rosenthal, comedian Will Ferrell, NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, ex-USWNT legend Mia Hamm and Hamm’s husband and former MLB All-Star Nomar Garciaparra all also own a stake in The Black and Gold. On the field LAFC has been one of the league’s best and most exciting clubs since their inception, winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2019, while off it there have been plenty of laughs thanks to Ferrell. The former Saturday Night Live star — also a Chelsea supporter — marked the side’s first-ever contest by conducting an interview with ESPN as Anchorman character Ron Burgundy.
Kevin Durant isn’t the first NBA superstar to invest in an MLS club, as his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate James Harden beat him to the punch by purchasing a five percent stake in the Houston Dynamo last July. The Dynamo, who also count former world champion boxer Oscar de la Hoya among its owners, missed the playoffs in Harden’s first season aboard but are valued at a lofty $475 million. The club even made ‘The Beard’ feel at home by giving their entire roster ‘The Beard’ treatment on the club’s official site.
BeardApp > FaceApp pic.twitter.com/JlOUbyoE84
— Houston Dynamo (@HoustonDynamo) July 19, 2019
4. Elton John, Watford (owned up to 93%)
An ever-present at Vicarage Road, the British pop icon has owned Watford on two separate occasions, first from 1976-1987 and later from 1997-2002. Still an honorary life president of the club, John regular attends Watford home matches and even had a stand named after him in 2014. John’s first spell as chairman coincided with Watford rising from the fourth tier to the top flight, highlighted by a second-place finish in 1983 and an FA Cup final run in 1984. The artist’s hit “I’m Still Standing” was named the Hornets’ official club anthem in 2019, while John’s son Zachary, joined Watford’s Academy in 2018.
5. Drew Carey, Seattle Sounders (initially bought 7.5%)
The actor, comedian and game show host became one of the first American celebrities to get into soccer ownership when he bought a 7.5 percent stake in MLS expansion side Seattle Sounders in 2007. An avid Cleveland sports fan, Carey first became interested in soccer after visiting Spain and his love for the game has only blossomed from there. The Whose Line Is It Anyway and Price is Right host’s involvement with the Sounders has been fruitful as Seattle has won two MLS Cups (2016, 2019) and emerged as one of MLS’ most valuable clubs. Carey is not an absent owner either, as he regularly attends home games and serves as the president of ‘Sounders FC Alliance,’ the club’s official membership group
6. Matthew McConaughey, Austin FC (undisclosed)
“Alright, alright, alright.” The Dazed and Confused, Lincoln Lawyer and Wolf of Wall Street actor bought into his beloved college city’s foray into soccer in 2019. While Austin FC won’t join MLS until 2021, the club has already secured their first victory in getting McConaughey, the unofficial mayor of Austin on board. McConaughey has delivered some passionate pump-up speeches both in films and to various University of Texas athletic teams and we hope he has the same lined up for Austin FC. I mean can you imagine him beating his chest and humming in the locker room right before kick-off?
Everything Zlatan does seems to make headlines, so it was no surprise that the brash striker’s announcement that he was buying 25 percent of Swedish club Hammarby in 2019 ruffled some feathers. A product of the Malmo youth system, Ibrahimovic’s decision to invest in a rival club like Hammarby was labeled a “betrayal” in Malmo and even provoked Malmo supporters to vandalise and then topple a statue of the striker outside of the club’s home ground. Zlatan wasn’t too fazed by the backlash, calling the group “kindergarten level.” Remember this is a man who has compared himself to lions, Ferraris and even God!
8. Russell Wilson and Ciara, Seattle Sounders (undisclosed)
They love their sports and stars in Seattle, so it is fitting that Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and wife and Grammy award-winning singer Ciara joined the Seattle Sounders ownership group in 2019. At their unveiling as owners the Pro Bowl QB called soccer a “transformational sport” and added that the unifying power and inclusiveness of the sport played a huge part in the couple’s decision to get involved.
Real Valladolid are a rather inconspicuous club, having flip-flopped between Spain‘s Primera and Segunda for much of their history, that didn’t deter Ronaldo. The Brazil legend, who won two World Cups and two Ballon d’Ors during his illustrious playing career, bought a 51 percent share in the Spanish club in 2018 for €30 million and now holds an 82 percent stake in the Blanquivioletas. Valladolid have played the last two seasons in La Liga and currently 14th, look poised for a third consecutive campaign in the top flight.
10. Diplo, Phoenix Rising (undisclosed)
One of the world’s most popular and successful DJs, Diplo is another celebrity who has a real affection for ‘The Beautiful Game.’ The three-time Grammy award winner bought a stake in USL side Phoenix Rising in 2016 and makes up a star-studded ownership group that includes Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, Fall out Boy bassist Pete Wentz and ex-MLB pitcher Brandon McCarthy. The club, which had the Western Conference’s best record in 2019, still has designs on joining MLS, and previously featured Diplo’s record label “Mad Decent” as a jersey sponsor.
Ex-NBA star Steve Nash’s love for football is well-documented, with the former point guard a diehard Tottenham Hotspur supporter and an occasional Champions League analyst. Originally born in South Africa, Nash comes from a soccer family, his brother Martin earned 38 caps for Canada, while his sister Joann captained her college soccer team for three years. The former Phoenix Suns star and two-time NBA MVP, first bought into his hometown Whitecaps back in 2008 and then Spanish side Mallorca in 2016. Nash’s investment in Mallorca (he was part of a group that purchased a $21 million stake) has proved a masterstroke as Mallorca has earned back-to-back promotions and this season are back in La Liga for the first time since 2013.
12. Class of 92: David Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Salford City (10% each)
The ‘Class of ’92’ consisting of David Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt rose to prominence in Manchester almost 30 years ago, winning a combined 120 trophies at Old Trafford under legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson. In 2014, five of the six returned to the Manchester area to purchase eighth-tier Salford City, whose ground resides just five miles away from the bright lights of ‘The Theatre of Dreams.’ Beckham joined his former teammates by also buying a 10 percent stake in 2019 and the club has flourished since. Salford, thanks largely to the Class of ’92s financial backing, has earned four promotions in five seasons to reach the fourth tier (League 2) and the Football League for the first time ever. The club unveiled a new stadium in 2017 and are the subject of the docuseries Class of ’92: Out of Their League, which is available on Netflix.