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In a surprising development, Real Madrid football player Jude Bellingham has invested in cricket by acquiring a minority stake in The Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix<\/a><\/strong>, further strengthening his connection with his hometown.\u00a0<\/p>\n As per reports, the Real Madrid midfielder has invested approximately \u00a31 million to secure a small share in the franchise. The stake has been purchased from both Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Knighthead Capital, who currently co-own the team, as reported by the Cricketer.<\/p>\n Knighthead had earlier acquired a 49% stake in Birmingham Phoenix, joining hands with Warwickshire, the host county. In their latest annual report, Warwickshire disclosed that 1.2% of the franchise shares were sold in January 2026 to an investor, with half of that stake (0.6%) coming from the club itself. Following this transaction, Warwickshire now holds a 50.4% share, while Knighthead owns 48.4%.<\/p>\n Bellingham\u2019s investment values the franchise at a significant figure. Warwickshire estimated the fair value of their majority stake at \u00a348 million, a valuation derived from Knighthead\u2019s initial acquisition along with a control premium applied to the majority holding.<\/p>\n Despite the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) enforcing a five-year lock-in period for new investors in The Hundred franchises, Bellingham\u2019s involvement has been approved. The 22-year-old football star shares a deep-rooted connection with Birmingham, having risen through the ranks at Birmingham City FC. He made history as the club\u2019s youngest first-team player at just 16 before securing a move to Borussia Dortmund for \u00a322.75 million. His meteoric rise continued with a high-profile transfer to Real Madrid in 2023 for a reported \u00a388 million.<\/p>\n Bellingham also has a cricketing background. He played junior cricket for Hagley Cricket Club during his teenage years and has often expressed his admiration for the sport. In a recent interaction, he revealed that if given a chance to swap professions for a day, he would choose England Test captain Ben Stokes.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Birmingham Phoenix are still chasing their maiden title in The Hundred, with both their men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams yet to lift the trophy. The men\u2019s side will be led by promising youngster Jacob Bethell <\/a><\/strong>this season, while the women\u2019s team will be captained by Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n