April 22 – Jude Bellingham has taken a minority stake in ‘The Hundred’ franchise Birmingham Phoenix, marking a crossover investment into cricket for the Real Madrid and England midfielder.
Bellingham, 22, will acquire 1.2% of the franchise, with the equity split evenly between Warwickshire County Cricket Club and affiliates of Knighthead Capital Management. The transaction leaves Warwickshire with a 50.4% majority shareholding and Knighthead holding 48.4%.
The Hundred is a city-based, franchise tournament launched by the England and Wales Cricket Board, featuring 100-ball matches designed to shorten formats and broaden audience appeal. From 2026, the competition entered a new phase with private capital entering team structures, reshaping ownership models across the league.
Bellingham, raised in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, has positioned the move as a way of reconnecting with the city he left at age 18 and widening access to sport in the area.
“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,” he said.
“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. The opportunity of me being a part of Birmingham Phoenix is to try and help people realise there’s different avenues.”
Stuart Cain, chief executive of Birmingham Phoenix, added: “Jude loved cricket as a youngster and has wanted to be involved since The Hundred first went to market to secure investors. He understands the importance of sport and how it can play a positive role in young people’s lives.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]