LONDON: Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham said a debt of gratitude towards his home city of Birmingham was behind his decision to buy a minority stake in cricket franchise Birmingham Phoenix.

The England midfielder has taken a 1.2 per cent holding in the Edgbaston-based Hundred team at a reported cost of over 800,000 ($1 million).

The Phoenix franchise was valued at around 82million when Knighthead Capital acquired a 49 per cent stake last year during a sales process initiated by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Bellingham, who was brought up in nearby Stourbridge and began his career at Birmingham City, is a big cricket fan and played for Hagley in Worcestershire as a junior.

“I love Birmingham. I’m very grateful for what the whole city of Birmingham has done for me,” said the 22-year-old.

“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.

“I got the best upbringing into football, into life through Birmingham City. I feel like I owe the city something.”

Legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady is also part of the Knighthead group that owns Birmingham City.

Stakes in the eight city-based franchises — which all have men’s and women’s teams — were sold last year to private investors, raising huge sums for cricket in England and Wales.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026