How American billionaires, Ryan Reynolds, LeBron James and Tom Brady have upended English soccer
The Americans are coming — and they’re buying up England’s football clubs.This past season, the top three leagues were all won by clubs backed by US money.
Currently, twelve of the twenty teams in England’s Premier League, the top division and the most watched sports league in the world, are wholly or partially owned by US investors — among them notable celebrities such as actors Michael B.Jordan and Will Ferrell, NFL star J.J.
Watt and basketball great LeBron James.The lower divisions are also dominated by American money and bold-facers such as Tom Brady, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
There’s an “American-led revolution” in English football, Kieran Maguire, author of “The Price of Football” and co-host of the podcast of the same name, told The Post of all the US investment.“It’s a bit like crypto.
There’s a fear of missing out.”The invasion comes as the US’s presence in the international soccer world expands, and Americans have a growing, seemingly insatiable interest in the sport.Starting Sunday, the US is hosting the FIFA Club World Cup.The 32-team tournament will feature two English club teams — Manchester City and Chelsea.
The latter was purchased in 2022 by an American consortium led by billionaire Todd Boehly, who co-owns the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 2026, the US will jointly host the World Cup, along with Canada and Mexico.For American celebrities and businessmen, buying a British club team is a relatively affordable way to get a piece of the action — and potentially far more fun than adding yet another multi-million dollar home to their real estate profile.“English football is an assault on all the senses simultaneously, especially for Americans who are thirsting for ever more unique experiences,” said Tom Wagner, the co-founder of the US-based Knighthead Capital Management, which took over the Birmingham City team in July 2023.
The Yankee teams are certainly having a good run.Liverpool — owned by the Bost...