May 3 – Burnley, who have bounced back to the Premier League after a season in the Championship, have received new minority investment from the US from retired NFL star JJ Watt and his wife and NWSL player Kealia Watt.
No detail was given of their stake in the club which was acquired at the end of 2021 for £170 million by US investment firm ALK Capital. Part of that deal involved a loan of £65 million.
Burnely was relegated to the Championship in May 2022, in the first year of new ownership, but secured promotion back to the Premier League in April.
JJ Watt retired from the NFL last year having picked up three NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards while with the Houston Texans.
Kealia Watt is a former US women’s national team player player, and currently an NWSL free agent having last played for the Chicago Red Stars in 2021. She will be involved in developing Burnley’s women’s team, said the club.
“When you invest in a club that’s been around since 1882, you must have great respect for its history and tradition. We understand that not only are we investing in the squad and manager, we’re investing in the town and its people. We take that responsibility very seriously and intend to work hard in earning their trust and support,” said JJ Watt.
“We believe that Burnley is a special club with incredible supporters and we want to help continue to elevate its global profile on its return to the Premier League.”
JJ Watt will not be the only former NFL player with a stake in Burnley. Former NFL safety Malcolm Jenkins who played for the Philadephia Eagles and New Orleans Saints became a minority investor in Burnley in 2021.
Burnley chairman Alan Pace welcomed the Watts saying: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome JJ and Kealia into the Clarets family. This is a conversation that has been happening for some time and over the course of this season we’ve been hugely impressed by their passion and interest in both the club and the Burnley community. I am very much looking forward to working with them.”
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