In a surprising move, Jude Bellingham has entered the world of cricket. The Real Madrid midfielder has bought a minority stake in Birmingham Phoenix. This investment also highlights his strong connection with his hometown, Birmingham.
According to reports, Bellingham has invested around £1 million. He has purchased a small share in the franchise from Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Knighthead Capital, who co-own the team.
Real Madrid star buys minority stake in The Hundred franchise
Knighthead had earlier bought a 49% stake in Birmingham Phoenix. They partnered with Warwickshire, the host county. In their latest annual report, Warwickshire revealed that 1.2% of shares were sold in January 2026. Half of this (0.6%) came from the club itself. After the deal, Warwickshire now holds 50.4%, while Knighthead owns 48.4%.
Bellingham’s investment also reflects the growing value of the franchise. Warwickshire estimated their majority stake at £48 million. This valuation was based on Knighthead’s earlier deal and a control premium.
The investment was approved despite rules set by the England and Wales Cricket Board. The board has a five-year lock-in period for new investors in The Hundred franchises.
Bellingham has strong roots in Birmingham. He came through the ranks at Birmingham City FC. He became their youngest first-team player at 16. He later moved to Borussia Dortmund before joining Real Madrid in 2023.
The 22-year-old also has a cricket background. He played junior cricket for Hagley Cricket Club. He has often spoken about his love for the sport. In a recent interaction, he revealed that if given a chance to swap professions for a day, he would choose England Test captain Ben Stokes.
Birmingham Phoenix are still chasing their first title in The Hundred. The men’s team will be led by Jacob Bethell, while the women’s side will be captained by Ellyse Perry.
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