The trend of American stars getting involved in European sports continues apace, with some big names involved in sports across the Atlantic Ocean.
Some are interested in seeing a team in another sport progress, and some are celebrities who simply want to see their dollars put to good use somewhere.
Here are 10 American celebrities who have invested in European sports teams.
Tom Brady
Legendary former NFL quarterback Brady left a huge legacy in his own game, winning seven Super Bowls in his career.
Through his sporting career and other ventures, he’s amassed a net worth of over $300million (£220.8m) and has invested in a 3.3 percent stake of English soccer side Birmingham City.
The Blues won League One in 2025, gaining promotion to the Championship, which is the second tier of English professional soccer.
JJ Watt
Former NFL defensive end Watt bought a minority stake in Burnley in 2023, stating he had first become interested in soccer in England back in 2011.
Watt is actively involved with the running of the club and has clearly done a good job of building personal relationships with the players.
He was under threat of having to return to playing in the NFL after a bet with Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, with Watt agreeing if the goalkeeper didn’t let in a goal from December until the end of the season, in May, he’d go back and play for the Cincinnati Bengals, who the keeper supports.
Trafford then went two months without conceding a goal. Watt is often seen wearing a Burnley cap and speaking about his investment in the side on different media channels.
LeBron James
At the time of LeBron’s investment in Liverpool in 2011, American stars pouring cash into European sports was something of a novelty.
Not long after Fenway Sports Group’s takeover of the Premier League giants, James acquired a two percent stake in the club.
He no longer has those shares but retains a one percent stake in FSG’s wider empire – and given they still own Liverpool, he’s on this list.
Travis Kelce
Kelce was part of a consortium that acquired a 24 percent stake in French Formula 1 team Alpine in 2023.
The consortium is made up of three companies, with sports stars Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Juan Mata among the investors contributing to the $200million acquisition.
Patrick Mahomes
Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs teammate Mahomes invested in Alpine alongside him. Of the takeover, Mahomes said: “The opportunity to lead an investor group with Travis in Alpine F1 alongside Otro Capital was one I couldn’t pass up.”
The NFL star has experience of being involved on the ownership side of other sporting teams. Closer to home, the Mahomes family have an ownership stake in the Kansas City Current in women’s soccer, and Sporting Kansas City in men’s soccer, as well as baseball team the Kansas City Royals.
Michael B Jordan
American businessman Bill Foley took over Premier League soccer club Bournemouth in 2022 and had some minority investors acquire stakes alongside him.
Actor Jordan was part of that group, and he has helped to market the club.
He designed a limited-edition kit for the club’s last pre-season tour in the United States, with a view to helping their brand in the country.
Ryan Reynolds
Hollywood actor Reynolds is one of the biggest names to get involved in European sports, and he went all in when investing in Wrexham.
He and fellow actor Rob McElhenney each acquired 50 percent of the then-National League club to take full control.
Since their original $2.6million purchase in 2021, the club has been promoted three times, and their value now reportedly exceeds $125million.
Rob McElhenney
McElhenney is the other half of the Wrexham ownership pair, and though he and Reynolds did not go down the most common route by acquiring a minority stake in an already big club, they have visions of making Wrexham a powerhouse.
Now in the Championship, one rank below the Premier League, they are within touching distance of the promised land, while having already achieved one big goal.
Wrexham striker Paul Mullin said in July 2025: “Rob McElhenney told me that within five years his plan was to be in the Championship. To manage to do it in four years is something not to be sniffed at. It’s been an unbelievable journey and it’s changed my life.”
Russell Westbrook
NBA star Westbrook was less interested in which team he had invested in, he simply wanted to put his money towards something.
Indeed, he invested in the 49ers Group prior to them taking over now-Premier League side Leeds United.
Westbrook said: “I was lucky enough to have conversations with some of the partners in this deal who already have ownership, the 49ers.
“So I was lucky enough to talk through that with friends, talking with my business partner as well about different things and having conversations, figuring out if this was the right deal and how we could make it different.”
Jordan Spieth
At a similar time to Westbrook, knowing the 49ers group was going to take over at Leeds, golf star Spieth and fellow tour golfer Justin Thomas also got involved in a side who returned to the Premier League in 2025.
Things have already gone the way he was hoping for his investment, as Spieth told Sky Sports at the time: “Relegation wasn’t ideal, but we got involved with the 49ers group about purchasing a larger share and getting in with them doing things so successfully as they do everywhere they’ve touched.
“We thought it would be a cool opportunity. It’s a big city, historic club, great venue in Elland Road, and once we looked into it we realised it could be really exciting.
“They [the 49ers] renegotiated after relegation and it was possibly a better deal – as long as they can get promoted [to the Premier League] soon.
“I’m excited to have a team I’m emotionally invested in. I’ve watched the Premier League intently for a few years. Hopefully, we’ll be back very soon.”
