Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder and England international, has announced that he will become a shareholder in the Birmingham Phoenix, the franchise that represents the city in The Hundred cricket competition, ahead of the 2026 season. The young star, who grew up in nearby Stourbridge, said he feels a deep sense of gratitude toward Birmingham and sees the investment as a way of giving back to the community that helped shape his early life.
Bellingham will acquire a 1.2 percent stake in the Phoenix, while Warwickshire County Cricket Club will retain the majority shareholding at 50.4 percent and Knighthead Capital Management – the owners of Birmingham City Football Club, in which NFL legend Tom Brady holds a minority interest – will hold the remaining 48.4 percent. The deal gives Bellingham a modest but meaningful voice in the club’s strategic direction, particularly in areas such as community outreach and corporate social responsibility (CSR). He has pledged to focus on expanding cricket participation among young people, using sport as a bridge between different cultural groups, and supporting projects that improve health, education and social cohesion in the West Midlands.
When asked about the motivation behind his involvement, Bellingham said, "I feel like I owe the city something. And this feels like a good way." He elaborated that Birmingham was the place where he first learned to compete, to work hard and to support others.
In a candid interview with Warwickshire CCC, he recalled how he and his brother Jobe would spend hours playing cricket in the back garden, often turning a friendly match into a lively scrap. "Cricket is probably my favourite thing to watch outside football," he admitted, adding that the sport’s blend of strategy, patience and elegance has always appealed to him. Bellingham’s love for cricket is not just nostalgic; it is also practical.
He explained that the values he associates with the game – respect for the opposition, decorum on the field, and a certain class in how players conduct themselves – are qualities he hopes to promote among young athletes. "There’s a class to it, definitely," he said. "The toss, the captain’s blazer, the way fans behave – there’s a line of respect that runs through the sport, even when rivalries get heated." The investment comes at a time of significant change for The Hundred.
Since last year, more than £520 million of private capital has been poured into the competition, prompting a wave of rebranding and ownership reshuffles. Three of the eight franchises have adopted new identities linked to Indian Premier League partners: Manchester Super Giants (formerly the Originals), Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers) and MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles).
All matches – both men’s and women’s – will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in 2026, with a schedule that pits Birmingham Phoenix against rivals such as the Trent Rockets, Manchester Super Giants, Southern Brave, Welsh Fire, Sunrisers Leeds and MI London across a series of venues including Edgbaston, Trent Bridge, Lord’s and the Emirates Old Trafford. Bellingham’s comments also touched on the broader cultural differences he has observed between Birmingham and other cities he has lived in or visited during his football career.
He contrasted the supportive, community‑focused atmosphere of his hometown with the more cut‑throat environments he experienced elsewhere. "It wasn’t like other areas that I’ve been to where it’s very cut‑throat and a bit ruthless," he said.
"Everyone cares for one another really well." He believes that these values are portable and that he can serve as an ambassador for Birmingham on the global stage. Whether he is playing in Germany, Spain or elsewhere, Bellingham says he carries the city’s spirit with him, hoping to showcase the region’s positive attributes through his actions both on and off the pitch. "I want to kind of show people, show the world that where I come from is an amazing place with amazing values," he explained.
When pressed about the role cricket could play in shaping young people, Bellingham highlighted the sport’s emphasis on patience, teamwork and respect for tradition. He noted that cricket’s slower pace allows players to develop mental resilience and strategic thinking, qualities that are equally valuable in football and in life.
"The way the players move to bowl and bat, it’s so elegant sometimes," he said, adding that the sport’s humor and lighter‑hearted moments – such as the popular stump‑mic interviews – make it more relatable and less scrutinised than football in some respects. The star also addressed why he chose to align himself specifically with the Phoenix rather than another franchise. "I love Birmingham.
I’m very grateful for what they’ve done for me," he said. "The whole city of Birmingham really – well at least one half!" He emphasized that the West Midlands shaped both his football and cricket experiences, but that the Phoenix holds a special place because of his personal connection to the city’s football club and the memories of playing cricket on local parks and school grounds. Looking ahead, Bellingham hopes his involvement will encourage other high‑profile athletes to consider similar community‑focused investments. He sees sport as a unifying force that can break down social barriers, promote healthy lifestyles, and provide role models for young people.
By leveraging his platform, he aims to attract more attention to cricket in the region, increase participation rates among schoolchildren, and perhaps inspire a new generation of dual‑sport athletes who can excel both on the football pitch and the cricket field. The 2026 Hundred schedule promises a packed calendar for Phoenix supporters. Key fixtures include a home clash against the Trent Rockets at Edgbaston on July 24 (women’s game at 3 p.m., men’s at 6:30 p.m.), a showdown with Manchester Super Giants at Old Trafford on July 26, and a series of matches against Southern Brave, Welsh Fire, Sunrisers Leeds, London Spirit and MI London throughout August. All games will be streamed live on Sky Sports, with no contractual obligations required to watch, and fans can also follow the action via the Sky Sports app.
In summary, Jude Bellingham’s modest equity stake in the Birmingham Phoenix is more than a financial transaction; it is a statement of loyalty, a commitment to community development, and an expression of the deep personal ties he feels to his hometown. By championing cricket’s values of respect, elegance and inclusivity, he hopes to give back to the city that gave him so much, while also helping to grow the sport’s profile in a region where football has traditionally dominated.
His words – that he feels he "owes the city something" – encapsulate a sentiment that many Birmingham natives share, and his involvement may well serve as a catalyst for further investment and enthusiasm for cricket across the West Midlands.