Football clubs around the world have been invested in by legends of the game and A-list celebrities, but often they are the clubs you’d least expect to pique the interests of these superstars.
From the hip-hop great Snoop Dogg considering investing into Celtic, to money being cashed into seventh-tier English teams, many of the clubs that are attracting have something in common.
They are far from the most elite teams.
Ballon D’Or winner Luka Modric is no exception to this movement – with the 39-year-old’s decision to become a minority owner of Swansea City having left fans baffled.
Supporters took to social media to voice the confusion the Los Blancos legend created, with one fan commenting: ‘A post I never imagined seeing.’
And speaking of, here are seven other bizarre football club investments that Mail Sport didn’t see coming either.
Luka Modric shocked the world this week when it was revealed that he had become an investor in Swansea City
Swansea are currently 12th place in the Championship and out of playoff contention this term
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and Wrexham
Arguably the ones to the set the trend to invest in a smaller club, American acting star duo of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney swept the footballing world off its feet back in 2020 when they completed a deal to become co-owners of Wrexham.
Since the pair’s bold venture, the Welsh outfit’s men’s and women’s squads have both gained promotion, with the men’s side securing back-to-back promotions. It’s been a Hollywood storyline, alright.
Ryan Reynolds (right) and Rob McElhenney (left) began the recent trend of American celebrities investing in English Football League clubs
Wrexham have climbed from the National League to within four wins of the second tier
Tom Brady and Birmingham City
It’s pretty safe to say nobody expected Tom Brady – the man widely regarded as the greatest NFL player of all time – to become a minority owner and adviser of at-the-time Championship side Birmingham City.
Following the announcement, many were skeptical, prompting question to be raised about how serious of an investment this was for the iconic quarterback.
Fast forward to now, and his side have just become the first EFL club of the season to gain promotion, with their 2-1 victory over Peterborough securing their return to the Championship.
NFL legend Tom Brady’s decision to invest in Birmingham City left many scratching their heads
The Blues secured an immediate return to the Championship after a 2-1 win over Peterborough
N’Golo Kante and Royal Excelsior Virton
Despite the fact we all know N’Golo Kante is a rare breed of footballer who is near enough impossible for any supporter to dislike or object to, but in this instance, he left fans scratching their heads when he not only bought a stake in the Belgian third tier side Royal Excelsior Virton, but went one further and became the club’s chairman too.
Given the deep-rooted rivalry of France and Belgium, it was a courageous choice from the Frenchman. Currently playing two leagues below the Belgian Pro League, the Al-Ittihad player has his work cut out to give the club the boost he wishes to.
N’Golo Kante, currently still playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad, is the chairman of Belgian side Royal Excelsior Virton
Will Ferrell and Leeds United
Even though Russell Crowe has had a stake in Leeds United since 2015, the fact that the man who starred in a Christmas classic and a comedy about two middle-aged losers becoming stepbrothers makes this one of the more ludicrous investments on this list.
The acting star bought a stake at Elland Road after randomly ‘falling in love with the English game’. Despite his stake being a minor one, perhaps every little bit really does help, as Leeds are currently sitting at top spot in the Championship.
Comedic acting legend Will Ferrell added his name to the list of American A-listers investing in lower league English sides in 2024
Cesar Azpilicueta and Hashtag United
In 2025 it wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprising to see YouTube making waves in the world of sport, however, if, in 2018, someone was to tell you that Cesar Azpilicueta would invest in a team founded by YouTuber Spencer Owen, it would be a wild revelation to hear.
The Spaniard was also appointed as a board member for the club as part of – what is proving to be an extremely – long term project to use his funds to help the club get to the Premier League.
Former Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta was appointed as a board member of Hashtag United, founded by YouTuber Spencer Owen
Michael B. Jordan and Bournemouth
Creed star Michael B. Jordan threw a hook which nobody saw coming when a deal with American businessman William Foley saw him become a minority shareowner of the Cherries in December 2022.
The actor – voted the sexiest man alive in 2020 – revealed that his reason behind the unexpected decision was because there was ‘so much potential there’. With European football for next season on the cards for the seaside town, you have to take your hat – or in this case glove – off to the American.
Creed star Michael B. Jordan became a minority shareholder of Premier League side Bournemouth
Hollywood actresses Kate Upton (left) and Eva Longoria (right) joined a host of fellow celebrities in investing in Mexican side Necaxa
Former Arsenal and Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil teamed up with the pair to buy 50 per cent of the Mexican club
Eva Longoria, Kate Upton, and Mesut Ozil and Necaxa
The trio of Eva Longoria, Kate Upton and Mesut Ozil is as odd as it gets, but this is without mentioning that reason they teamed up – to buy a 50 per cent stake in Necaxa – a club that was then bottom of the Mexican league table.
Despite Longoria’s Mexican roots, surely nobody had the German maestro teaming up with an actress and a model on their bingo card.
The Mexican side currently sit 13th – out of 18 teams – having played half of their league fixtures this season. No doubt Ozil will be doing everything he can to assist in this situation.