This is a crossover that you didn’t expect. Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham has bought a minority stake in a Hundred franchise. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is a cricket fan from the beginning and has now transferred that into actual investment, having bought a 1.2% stake in the Birmingham Phoenix.
The deal, which was completed on April 22, is valued at around £1 million (INR 12.65 crore). It is a small percentage on paper, but in a franchise valued at close to £82 million (INR 902 crore). Despite taking just over a percent, Bellingham’s presence and name are enough to generate interest in casual cricket and football fans. The Hundred is on a revamp, having sold four of its eight franchises to IPL owners.
Bellingham’s stake at Birmingham Phoenix
The Hundred has been attracting serious money over the last couple of years. Knighthead Capital, which already owns a 49% stake in the Phoenix and owns Birmingham City, came in during the previous investment round. Warwickshire still hold a controlling stake at just over 50%, but the entry of names like Bellingham shows where things are heading. Cross-sport investments are becoming more common. Athletes are no longer limiting themselves to their own disciplines when it comes to business decisions.
Bellingham has acquired 0.6% from both sides, leaving Warwickshire with a 50.4% controlling stake.
Birmingham Phoenix’s ownership split
- Warwickshire County Cricket Club – 50.4%
- Knighthead Capital Management – 48.4%
- Jude Bellingham – 1.2%
Bellingham grew up in the Midlands and started his football career with Birmingham City. The Phoenix are based out of Edgbaston, which is essentially home territory for him. Meanwhile, the Knighthead Capitals are the actual owners of football club Birmingham City, for whom Bellingham played from 2019 to 2020. He even spent his youth career days with the club.
Now, at Real Madrid, Bellingham commands a huge fee of almost INR 19 crore per month. Acquiring a minority stake worth INR 12.65 crore doesn’t make or break his bank account.
Birmingham Phoenix Squad for the Hundred 2026
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Retained/Direct Signings | Rehan Ahmed, Donovan Ferreira ✈️, Mitchell Owen ✈️, Jacob Bethell |
| Auction Buys | Joe Clarke, Saqib Mahmood, Usman Tariq ✈️, Will Smeed, Jordan Thompson, Scott Currie, Laurie Evans, Chris Wood, Ethan Brookes, Mustafizur Rahman ✈️ |
Bellingham’s cricket connection
Coming from England, Jude knows cricket unlike many other Eurpoan footballers. He has also played cricket in his younger days, turning out for Hagley Cricket Club in Worcestershire. So this isn’t a new sport he’s suddenly trying to understand. He’s followed it, played it, and clearly still has an interest in it. In fact, he had once mentioned that if he could swap careers with any sportsperson, it would be England’s Test captain Ben Stokes.
From a cricketing point of view, Birmingham Phoenix isn’t a small name either. With players like Jacob Bethell and Ellyse Perry associated with the setup, and young talents like Alice Capsey coming through, the franchise is one to keep an eye on. Following the acquisition, the Real Madrid star gave reasons about his investments. He said that he owes the Birmingham city something.
“I love Birmingham. I’m very grateful for what the whole city of Birmingham has done for me. I love cricket as well so when I got the opportunity to get involved I didn’t really think twice about it, so I’m so happy to be on board.”
“I’m so grateful to Birmingham, the Stourbridge area and the West Midlands as a whole. I got the best upbringing into football, into life through Birmingham City. I feel like I owe the city something. Right now it’s difficult with how busy I am with football, but if there’s a way in which I can help then I want to and this feels like a good way.“
“I think it’s so important to get our kids in the city out there playing sports. I think it’s crucial and the opportunity of me being a part of Birmingham Phoenix is to try and help people realise there’s different avenues. Some people will enjoy football, some people enjoy cricket.“
