Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham has invested in The Hundred side Birmingham Phoenix and is set to be unveiled on Wednesday as an owner

Former Birmingham City star Jude Bellingham has acquired a 1% stake in the Birmingham Phoenix cricket team. The Real Madrid and England sensation is set to be confirmed as a co-owner of the Hundred franchise on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old is reported to have secured a share worth at least £800,000 in the team that plays its home fixtures at Edgbaston. Bellingham is a well-known cricket enthusiast, having played at junior level for Hagley Cricket Club in Worcestershire.

Birmingham Phoenix share a common owner with Birmingham City in the form of American investment group Knighthead Capital Management. American NFL legend Tom Brady also has ties with the group.

The investment firm jointly owns Phoenix alongside Warwickshire. Knighthead acquired their stake in the Hundred outfit when the eight franchises were put up for sale last year, securing a 49% share for £48million, with Warwickshire holding on to a 51% stake.

According to the Times, Bellingham has purchased 0.5% from both Warwickshire and Knighthead respectively. The franchise is understood to be valued at around £82m.

During the sale of The Hundred teams, Warwickshire made clear to the ECB that they planned to attract another high-profile investor. New owners would ordinarily be prohibited from offloading any shares for a period of five years. Should Bellingham have paid £800,000 for his 1% share, £80,000 of that would be redistributed via the ECB to grassroots cricket, with the bulk of the money split between Warwickshire and Knighthead Capital.

Last July, the ECB confirmed it had raised in excess of £500m, with £50m directed towards grassroots sport following the sale of stakes in six teams.

Another prominent football figure, Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly, invested in the Trent Rockets through Cain International. He holds joint ownership of the company alongside fellow Chelsea director and co-owner Jonathan Goldstein, with the pair paying just under £40m for their 49% stake in the Nottingham-based side.

The Sun Group, owners of Indian Premier League outfit Sunrisers Hyderabad, splashed more than £100m on a 100% stake in Northern Superchargers, based at Yorkshire's Headingley. Indian firm RPSG Group, who own Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL and Durban's Super Giants in the SA20, snapped up 70% of Manchester Originals, while Delhi Capitals owners GMR Group acquired 49% of Southern Brave.

US-based outfits Tech Titans and Washington Freedom completed their respective purchases of London Spirit and Welsh Fire. Speaking at the time, ECB chairman Richard Thompson said it was a seminal moment.

"The Hundred has already played a vital role in growing cricket in England and Wales - attracting new audiences, elevating the women's game, and delivering high-quality entertainment," he said. "The sheer scale of global interest we've seen throughout this process highlights just how much potential remains to be unlocked.

"With these new partners on board, we're entering an exciting new phase and a seminal moment for cricket in England and Wales. Their global perspective and track record in elite sport and business will help us reimagine what's possible - from deepening fan connections to attracting even more world-class players.

"Crucially, this investment will not only fuel the competition's growth but also channel transformative levels of funding into our professional counties and grassroots game."

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us - and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're cu rious, you can read our Privacy Notice.