Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder who also stars for England, has announced a new partnership that goes beyond football. The young star, who grew up in Stourbridge, has taken a 1.2 percent equity stake in the Birmingham Phoenix, one of the eight franchises that compete in The Hundred, the 100‑ball cricket competition that will kick off its 2026 season in July and August. In taking this position, Bellingham says he feels a personal responsibility to give back to the city that helped shape his early life, describing his involvement as "a way of repaying a debt" to Birmingham. The investment structure places Warwickshire County Cricket Club as the majority shareholder with 50.4 percent, while Knighthead Capital Management – the owners of Birmingham City Football Club, who also count NFL legend Tom Brady as a minority investor – hold 48.4 percent.
Bellingham’s modest share may look small on paper, but it signals a broader ambition: he wants to use the platform of professional cricket to promote community engagement, social responsibility projects and cross‑sport collaboration. He has said he will focus on initiatives that bring people from different backgrounds together through the shared love of sport, and on encouraging youngsters in the West Midlands to take up cricket as a healthy, inclusive activity. During a press interview with Warwickshire CCC, Bellingham spoke fondly about his childhood memories of playing cricket with his brother Jobe.
He recalled that the two would often end up in light‑hearted "scraps" over a run‑out or a missed catch, and that those early experiences cemented cricket as his favorite pastime when he is not on the football pitch. "It’s probably my favourite thing to watch outside football," he said, adding that he now enjoys following Test matches, especially when they fit around his training schedule. Bellingham also reflected on the culture of Birmingham itself.
He described the city as a place where residents genuinely want each other to succeed, a supportive environment that contrasted with the more cut‑throat attitudes he has encountered elsewhere. "Everyone cares for one another really well," he explained, noting that the sense of community he felt growing up is a core value he carries with him wherever his career takes him – whether in Germany, Spain or on the global stage with England.
His investment arrives at a time of significant change for The Hundred. Since last year, more than £520 million of private capital has been injected into the competition, prompting a rebranding of three clubs to align with their new Indian Premier League‑style owners: Manchester Super Giants (formerly the Originals), Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers) and MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles).
The 2026 season will see all men's and women's fixtures broadcast live on Sky Sports, with a packed schedule that includes eliminators on 14 August and the finals on 16 August. The Phoenix’s calendar features matches at Edgbaston, Lord's and other iconic venues, ensuring a high‑profile platform for Bellingham’s community‑focused agenda. When asked why he chose to join Birmingham Phoenix, Bellingham answered without hesitation: "When the opportunity came I didn’t think twice. I love Birmingham and I’m grateful for everything the city has done for me.
It feels like a good way to give back, in a different but still sporting avenue." He praised Birmingham City Football Club as the best team he could have come through, emphasizing that the club and the city provided the foundation for his personal and professional development. Beyond the financial stake, Bellingham sees cricket as a conduit for teaching values such as respect, elegance and class. He highlighted the ritual of the toss, the formal attire of captains, and the courteous relationship between players and fans as hallmarks of the sport.
"There’s a certain class and elegance to cricket that you don’t always see in football," he observed. He believes these qualities can inspire young athletes to conduct themselves with dignity on and off the field. Bellingham also mused on whether football could learn from cricket’s more relaxed atmosphere. He noted that cricket often embraces humor and light‑heartedness, allowing players to be appreciated for their personalities as well as their performances.
This, he suggested, could help football become less ruthless and more inclusive. Staying true to his roots is a central theme in Bellingham’s narrative. He emphasized that his accent, his values and his sense of community are all part of his identity.
"I carry Birmingham with me in everything I do," he said, adding that the city’s supportive culture has shaped his mindset and his desire to uplift others. He acknowledges that being a "Brummie" sometimes means not taking things too seriously, but he also stresses the honour he feels representing his hometown on a global stage. The upcoming fixtures for Birmingham Phoenix illustrate the excitement surrounding the 2026 Hundred season.
The team will open with a women's match against the Trent Rockets at Edgbaston on 24 July, followed by a men’s game later that evening. Subsequent clashes include a showdown with Manchester Super Giants at Old Trafford, a duel with Southern Brave at the Utilita Bowl, and a high‑stakes encounter with MI London back at Edgbaston. Each day will feature a women's match preceding the men’s fixture, underscoring the competition’s commitment to gender equality. In summary, Jude Bellingham’s investment in Birmingham Phoenix is more than a financial move; it is a statement of gratitude, a pledge to community development, and an endorsement of cricket’s cultural significance.
By leveraging his global profile, he hopes to shine a light on Birmingham’s values, inspire young people to engage with sport, and perhaps even influence the broader sporting world to adopt cricket’s spirit of respect and enjoyment. The partnership marks a new chapter for both Bellingham and the Phoenix, promising a season where sport, community and personal legacy intersect.