NFL legend Tom Brady buys into English football with stake in Birmingham City
- Brady invests alongside friend and American hedge fund manager Tom Wagner
- The retired quarterback will work as chairman of the advisory board on marketing and partnership opportunities, health, wellness and recovery programmes
Tom Brady made his first foray into the world of British football, investing in Championship club Birmingham City as a minority owner.
The retired NFL star invested alongside his friend, hedge fund manager Tom Wagner, who bought a 45 per cent stake in the club in July. Brady, who also invested with Wagner in pickleball, will be involved in the team as chairman of the advisory board.
The five-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback will work with the board on marketing efforts and partnership opportunities, as well as helping with health, wellness and recovery programmes.
“As a competitor my entire life, I know how important a city’s support can be to its team, and the passion the Blues fans have is legendary,” Brady said in an emailed statement. “I just can’t wait to experience it first-hand.”
Founded in 1875, Birmingham City FC plays in the second tier of English football, where the majority of clubs spend more on player wages than they make in revenues, according to research from Deloitte.
The new ownership stood to raise the profile of the club, which had been controlled by Chinese investor Paul Suen since 2016 and has struggled financially since being relegated from the Premier League in 2011. Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the Welsh team Wrexham AFC in 2021, leaning on their following and a documentary series about the club to revive its popularity and ticket sales. The club was promoted from the fifth tier in April.