Jude Bellingham Enters Cricket Ownership Scene with Birmingham Phoenix Investment

England football star Jude Bellingham has invested in the Birmingham Phoenix team of The Hundred franchise owned by Warwickshire County Cricket Club. The former Hagley Cricket Club player acquired a 1.2% stake in the team, reducing Warwickshire’s stake to 50.4% and Knighthead Capital’s to 48.4%. Bellingham originally hails from Birmingham and played for Birmingham City, who are owned by Knighthead Capital, before pursuing a career in professional football. His investment in the cricket team marks a significant move into the cricket franchise ownership space for the young footballer. The Eight English counties with teams in The Hundred were required to sell 49% stakes in their franchises to private players by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2025, with the option to sell the remaining 51% stakes to private investors. Knighthead Capital acquired 49% of Birmingham Phoenix from Warwickshire, with Bellingham purchasing 0.6% of the shares held by both Knighthead Capital and Warwickshire. This investment is reported to be worth according to Warwickshire’s annual report. The move is seen as a significant step into the cricket franchise ownership space for Bellingham, who has a strong connection to the sport having represented Hagley Cricket Club as a teenager before turning to professional football. Birmingham Phoenix competes in The Hundred, a high-profile tournament featuring eight international teams that was established by the ECB in 2021.