England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is preparing to take his first steps into cricket ownership, with plans to buy a minority share in The Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix. The 22-year-old is expected to make the development public later this week after securing roughly a one per cent stake, underlining a rare meeting point between football stardom and the franchise game. Bellingham, a long-time admirer of cricket, is also expected to frame the move as both personal and strategic as he deepens his links with the Midlands.<\/p>\n
Birmingham Phoenix were valued at about \u00a382 million (Rs 10,36,76,61,800) during The Hundred\u2019s most recent fundraising round. In 2025, American investment firm Knighthead Capital purchased 49 per cent of the franchise, while Warwickshire County Cricket Club kept the remaining 51 per cent as the host county at Edgbaston.<\/p>\n
While Bellingham\u2019s entry is being described as a minority investment, the exact structure appears to be based on a mix of existing shares rather than a fresh issuance from the franchise. Reports have suggested that he is expected to announce he has bought 0.6 per cent of Warwickshire\u2019s holding and 0.6 per cent of Knighthead\u2019s, which\u2014using figures linked to the auction\u2014would put the value of his stake at around \u00a31 million (Rs 12,64,70,000). The deal was first brought into the spotlight earlier by The Cricketer, and an official confirmation is anticipated on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
It remains unclear what the precise mechanics behind the agreement are, but the groundwork for the possibility appears to have been laid well in advance. Warwickshire and Knighthead had flagged Bellingham\u2019s potential involvement to the ECB more than a year ago, creating the pathway for them to complete a share sale as and when the investment could be finalised.<\/p>\n
Beyond the headline figure, the move also reflects Bellingham\u2019s connection to Birmingham and the wider region. Having grown up in the Midlands and begun his football path with Birmingham City, his association with a Birmingham-based franchise offers a strong local resonance. In his youth, he played for Hagley Cricket Club in nearby Worcestershire and has maintained an interest in the sport since.<\/p>\n
After the transaction, Warwickshire are set to remain the majority holder of Birmingham Phoenix with a 50.4 per cent stake, while Knighthead\u2019s share is expected to sit at 48.4 per cent. The squad is also expected to include prominent names such as men\u2019s captain Jacob Bethell and Ellyse Perry, with support from emerging English talents Alice Capsey and Davina Perrin.<\/p>\n
Bellingham\u2019s interest points to the growing commercial pull of franchise cricket, particularly as The Hundred continues to broaden its profile. The tournament was launched by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and has attracted global attention as it seeks to expand cricket\u2019s audience beyond traditional boundaries. The Hundred\u2019s continued ability to draw international investors is now being underlined again by a high-profile football figure choosing to enter the ownership conversation.<\/p>\n
As the story develops, fans will be watching for the formal announcement expected this week and the official confirmation on Wednesday, which will mark another step in the expanding crossover between global sports and the franchise game.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is preparing to take his first steps into cricket ownership, with plans to buy a minority share in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Jude Bellingham Buys Stake in Birmingham Phoenix, IPL News","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Jude Bellingham eyes cricket ownership with a minority stake in Birmingham Phoenix for The Hundred\u2014what it means for his rare crossover into franchise sport.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n