Hollywood turns its attention to English soccer

American actors, athletes, and businessmen are investing in British lower-league clubs and producing successful docuseries. Tom Brady, a minority shareholder in Birmingham City since August 2023, appeared in a November 2025 promotional video viewing models of a planned 62,000-seat stadium featuring 12 industrial-chimney-shaped structures and a $3.35 billion price tag. Snoop Dogg became a co-owner of Swansea City in July 2025. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham in February 2021 for $2.5 million; four years later the club sought investors at a $475 million valuation. As of 2025, 11 Premier League clubs are majority American-owned and nearly a third of clubs across the top four divisions have American ownership. The trend began with Malcolm Glazer’s 2005 purchase of Manchester United and has spread downward because elite-level clubs have become prohibitively expensive; the Championship offers historic clubs at lower prices and promotion–relegation acts as a speculative accelerator. Sheffield United sold in December 2024 for $180 million.

"Tom Brady, co-owner of Birmingham City, before a match at Wembley in April 2025.Catherine Ivill (Getty Images) In November 2025, former American football player Tom Brady appeared in a Birmingham City promotional video looking at models of a 62,000-seat stadium. The $3.35 billion project includes 12 structures shaped like industrial chimneys. Brady has been a minority shareholder since August 2023. Rapper and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg became a co-owner of Swansea City in July 2025."

"And in Wrexham, actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the team in February 2021 for $2.5 million. Four years later, it is seeking investors with a valuation of $475 million a 19,000% increase. These are not isolated cases. As of 2025, 11 of the 20 Premier League clubs are majority-owned by American proprietors. In the Championship, the second tier of the English league pyramid, nine teams have North American capital."

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