England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has become a new investor in The Hundred's Birmingham Phoenix, driven by a sense of gratitude towards the city of Birmingham. Bellingham, who hails from Stourbridge, will hold 1.2% of the team's equity, with Warwickshire County Cricket Club maintaining majority control at 50.4% and Birmingham City owners Knighthead Capital Management holding 48.4%. The investment is part of a larger rebranding effort in The Hundred, with over £520m in private investment injected since last year.
Bellingham expressed his love for cricket, stating it's his favorite sport to watch outside of football, and emphasized the importance of community engagement and corporate social responsibility projects. He aims to increase participation in cricket and bring people together through sports, inspired by the values he grew up with in Birmingham. The 2026 season of The Hundred will feature all matches live on Sky Sports, including the eliminators and finals.