Warwickshire County Cricket Club Retains Majority Stake as Knighthead Capital Holds Remaining Shareholding

Jude Bellingham has acquired a minority stake in the Birmingham Phoenix cricket franchise as part of The Hundred competition. The Real Madrid and England midfielder purchased approximately a one per cent share in the franchise based at Edgbaston. The investment was confirmed on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 and is expected to be formally announced later that day.

Bellingham’s stake comes from a combination of existing shares held by both Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Knighthead Capital Management. According to reports, he acquired 0.6 per cent of Warwickshire’s holding and 0.6 per cent of Knighthead’s stake. Following the transaction, Warwickshire County Cricket Club retains a majority 50.4 per cent controlling interest, while Knighthead Capital Management holds 48.4 per cent.

The Birmingham Phoenix franchise was valued at approximately £82 million during The Hundred’s recent investment round. Based on this valuation, Bellingham’s investment is estimated to be worth around £1 million. The deal was first reported by The Cricketer and later confirmed by Reuters, which noted the co-ownership structure after Bellingham’s acquisition.

Knighthead Capital Management, the American investment firm that owns Birmingham City Football Club, completed its 49 per cent acquisition of Birmingham Phoenix in August 2025. Warwickshire County Cricket Club retained the remaining 51 per cent at that time as the host county franchise. Bellingham’s purchase adjusts those percentages slightly, reflecting his minority stake drawn from both existing shareholders.

The investment marks a crossover between football and cricket, with Bellingham known to have maintained an interest in cricket since childhood. He played for Hagley Cricket Club in Worcestershire during his youth and grew up in the Midlands, beginning his football career with Birmingham City. His connection to the region adds a local dimension to his involvement with the Edgbaston-based franchise.

Stuart Cain, Chief Executive of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, previously praised the growth of Birmingham Phoenix over the past five years and highlighted Knighthead’s commitment as enabling the team to reach new levels globally. He noted the potential for increased impact across the West Midlands and opportunities to align with Knighthead’s other sports investments in the city as part of broader plans for a Sports Quarter.

Bellingham’s move follows a trend of private investment in The Hundred franchises, with the England and Wales Cricket Board noting that five other deals had been completed between investors and teams in the competition, with two additional agreements on track for formal completion. His investment represents one of the first instances of an active high-profile footballer acquiring a stake in a cricket franchise in England.