This ‘big fan’ of Ben Stokes, the legendary footballer bought stake in the famous cricket team

Delhi: Jude Bellingham, who is counted among the top football players in the world, has now taken his interest in cricket one step further. This star midfielder of England has adopted a new role in the sports world by investing in ‘The Hundred’ League team Birmingham Phoenix.

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Decision to invest in cricket franchise

According to media reports, Jude Bellingham has bought about 1.2 percent stake in Birmingham Phoenix. The value of this stake is being estimated at around 10 lakh pounds (about Rs 12 crore). The special thing is that he has made this investment in the team related to his home city, with which he already has an emotional connection.

Picture of change in shareholding

Talking about the ownership structure of the franchise, American investment company Knighthead Capital already holds a 49 percent stake, while county club Warwickshire now holds a 50.4 percent stake. After Bellingham’s investment, there has been a slight change in the stake.

Deep connection to Birmingham

Jude Bellingham’s relationship with Birmingham is very old. He started his professional career with Birmingham City’s academy and made headlines by playing for the senior team at the age of just 16. After this he became a part of Borussia Dortmund and then Real Madrid in 2023.

He also has a special passion for cricket, is a fan of Ben Stokes

Very few people know that Bellingham also has a special love for cricket. In his early days, he played cricket at the junior level for Hagley Cricket Club. In an interview, he had also said that if he got a chance to switch roles for a day with a player from another game, he would like to choose Ben Stokes. It is also true that he is a big fan of the English all-rounder.

Team’s performance so far

Birmingham Phoenix’s performance in ‘The Hundred’ tournament has not been anything special so far. The team has failed to win the title in both men’s and women’s categories, while in the last season also it failed to reach the playoffs. In the upcoming season, the captaincy of the men’s team will be handled by Jacob Bethel, while the responsibility of the women’s team will be in the hands of Alice Perry.

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It is believed that this move by Jude Bellingham will provide a new identity and financial strength to the franchise. An official announcement is likely to be made soon, after which more clear information regarding this investment can be revealed.