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Conor Gallagher arrived at Atletico Madrid as one of the club’s most expensive midfield signings, a high-energy Premier League standout expected to thrive under Diego Simeone. But a year later, the England international has opened up about his frustration over limited minutes, his fading World Cup hopes, and growing links to a January move to Manchester United, admitting he is “not satisfied” with his current situation.

Gallagher's promising move now shadowed by uncertainty

When Atletico secured Gallagher from Chelsea in the summer of 2024, it felt like the beginning of a long and productive chapter for both player and club. Gallagher had just come off several standout seasons in England, rising through Chelsea’s academy, shining during his loan spell at Crystal Palace, and completing 136 Premier League appearances filled with intensity, pressing, and late bursts into the box. His €40 million (£35m/$46m) transfer fee reflected not only his reputation but also Atletico’s confidence that he could become a central figure in Simeone’s midfield.

He wasted no time making an impression in Spain. Gallagher became the first Englishman in 101 years to score for Atletico, immediately displaying the tenacity, forward drive, and tireless work rate that had earned him admiration in England. His early performances suggested he was tailor-made for Simeone’s relentless style, often finishing matches completely exhausted after covering ground in every phase of play.

Yet as the season progressed, the momentum stalled. Gallagher’s role became inconsistent, and minutes gradually slipped away. By early 2025, he had logged only 339 league minutes and completed just one full match since September. With established figures like Koke, Pablo Barrios, and Alex Baena fitting Simeone’s tactical structure more precisely, Gallagher found himself more frequently rotated, often used for energy rather than entrusted with a regular starting place. What began as a career-defining move slowly transformed into a frustrating waiting game.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesGallagher breaks his silence: "I'm not satisfied"

The growing speculation about his future eventually reached Gallagher, who chose to address it openly. In recent weeks, he has been strongly linked with United, who are considering him as a January reinforcement should he become available. His honesty regarding his current role made clear that he is wrestling with mixed emotions.

“I’m not satisfied. I don’t think anyone will be if they don’t play as much as they would like, but I will continue to work very hard to, whenever I have the opportunity, help the team and hopefully more opportunities will come to be a starter,” he said in an interview with AS, acknowledging his frustration with the lack of consistent minutes.

At the same time, Gallagher rejected the idea that he is searching for a way out. He spoke with genuine appreciation for Atletico and a strong desire to succeed in Spain. “I’m very happy here. My goal is to win titles with Atleti and I want to have a bigger role in the team. And, as I said, I’m going to continue working to the maximum to play more minutes and be able to help the team.”

Gallagher remains committed, ambitious, and respectful of Simeone’s decisions, but he cannot ignore the impact his restricted playing time is having, not only on his club career but also on his international prospects.

The World Cup clock is ticking and time is running out

For Gallagher, the consequences of limited playing time extend well beyond Madrid. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, he knows that irregular minutes could jeopardise his place in England’s squad. His opportunities have already shrunk in recent international windows, and he recognises the significance of the challenge ahead.

“That’s one of my goals. I have spoken to Thomas Tuchel and he has told me what he needs from me and what I have to do to return to the team. And it seems that, right now, it’s very difficult for me to get to that point. But, as I said before, I will continue to do my best to get more minutes and, hopefully, return to the national team,” he admitted. His response underscored both his desire to represent England and his awareness of the reality he faces: national-team football requires rhythm, consistency, and trust—conditions that have been hard for him to find in Simeone’s structured system.

The competition around him at Atletico is relentless. Koke’s leadership, Baena’s creativity, and Barrios’ defensive discipline align seamlessly with Atletico’s tactical identity. Gallagher’s high-energy, box-to-box profile remains valuable, but Simeone’s preference for positional control and experience has kept him on the periphery. As links with the Red Devils grow louder, the midfielder faces a difficult crossroads. 

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Getty ImagesThe road ahead for Gallagher

Gallagher’s situation now enters a decisive period as Atletico approach January with a player who is fully committed but undeniably underused. He respects Simeone, speaks with admiration for the club, and genuinely wants to win trophies in Madrid. But ambition alone cannot replace the minutes he needs, and the coming weeks will force Atletico to confront a critical question: is Gallagher a long-term piece of the project, or is the timing right to let him pursue a more prominent role elsewhere?

From Gallagher’s perspective, his approach remains professional and patient. He has not demanded an exit and continues to push for more responsibility in training. Yet he is fully aware that his career cannot afford another prolonged period on the margins.

The next chapter will depend on how Simeone sees him fitting into a midfield. If Gallagher’s opportunities grow, he will stay and fight for his place. If not, the January window may offer a path toward the minutes he needs and the international future he continues to chase.

Sri Lanka are set to play just four Tests in 2025

Madushka Balasuriya16-Jun-2025Ahead of his final Test match, Angelo Mathews became the latest voice to sound the alarm around the lack of Test cricket for nations outside of India, England and Australia.Sri Lanka will be playing just four Tests in 2025 – their lowest number of Tests in a calendar year since 2013, not counting a Covid-curtailed 2020. If you look at the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, an even bleaker picture begins to emerge. In the previous cycle, each of Australia, India and England played at least 19 WTC Tests each over a two-year period. Champions South Africa, for instance, played just 13.In the upcoming cycle, Australia are slated for 22 Tests, England 21, and 18 for India. Sri Lanka are set to play even fewer than they did in the previous cycle, with 12 Tests over the course of six two-Test series – joint lowest with Bangladesh.”I think it’s quite sad to be honest,” Mathews said. “I mean, the younger generation are urging for more Test cricket. Test cricket is obviously the pinnacle of cricket. We all should push for more Tests. These guys are so enthusiastic about Test cricket.”I feel there has to be a minimum of 10 matches at least [in a year]. Teams like England, India or Australia are playing 15-plus games a year. Why can’t we play? We can. If we keep pushing, I mean, we have to. We have won World Cups. We have done so much for cricket as a nation, and we deserve to play Test cricket, just like Australia, India and England.”Related

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Mathews’ gripes aren’t new. Sri Lanka Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva banged the drum earlier this year ahead of their two-Test series against Australia. But it’s notable that a player with 118 Tests under his belt speaks up, after all, how many more Sri Lankans will realistically have the opportunity of matching that milestone?Even the timing of his retirement was, in part, impacted by the lack of Tests scheduled for Sri Lanka. While retirement was always on the cards for the now 38-year-old, particularly with it being the start of a new WTC cycle, the decision to play just the first Test was a decision borne in many ways out of circumstance.”I played my 100th Test in Galle, so I thought I’d say goodbye in Galle. But the main reason was because we don’t have any games coming up, at least for now. After this, we’ll be having our next assignment in Test cricket after a year’s time, that is a very long wait,” explained Mathews.”I thought it’s good to give an opportunity to whoever is going to replace me in the second Test, because he’s not going to get an opportunity till the next year (laughs). And in that year, you don’t know what what’s going to happen. So I thought I’d just play one game and then try and give an opportunity to the other guy who’s replacing me in the second Test.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Se tem algo que não vem funcionando muito bem no Palmeiras de Abel Ferreira nos últimos jogos, este setor sem dúvidas é o ataque.

RelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras inicia trabalhos com foco total no duelo contra o Boca JuniorsPalmeiras24/09/2023PalmeirasFalta de pontaria impede Palmeiras de colar na liderança do BrasileirãoPalmeiras24/09/2023PalmeirasRaphael Veiga, do Palmeiras, é convocado para a Seleção Brasileira novamentePalmeiras23/09/2023

+ Lance! Betting vai sortear ingressos para a final da Libertadores no Maraca! Vem conferir!

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Com apenas dois gols nos últimos cinco jogos, a torcida alviverde vê os principais artilheiros do time vivendo uma grande seca e a falta de eficácia da equipe após a lesão de Dudu preocupa todos os palestrinos.

continua após a publicidade

Mas se o desempenho ofensivo do Verdão é um problema no Brasileiro, na Libertadores a história é bem diferente.

Com 21 gols marcados, o Palmeiras é disparado o melhor ataque desta Libertadores 2023.

O Verdão tem 10 gols a mais do que o Boca Juniors na competição, e somente o trio Artur (5 gols), Rony (4) e Raphael Veiga (3) possuem mais gols do que o oponente do Palmeiras na semifinal do torneio mais importante do continente.

Outro fator importante e que o torcedor alviverde pode se apegar para bater o Boca Juniors é a força que o Verdão tem como visitante nesses últimos anos de Libertadores.

continua após a publicidade

+Raphael Veiga, do Palmeiras, é convocado para a Seleção Brasileira novamente

Só nesta edição já foram quatro vitórias longe de casa, sendo duas na fase de mata-mata, diante de Atlético-MG e Deportivo Pereira.

+ Tem promoção exclusiva de boas-vindas pra você! Aposte apartir de R$10 e receba até R$200 de bônus na Lance! Betting

+ Olha ele aí! Aposte R$10 e ganhe mais de R$55 com Payet e o Vasco no Brasileirão

+ Lance! Betting vai sortear ingressos para a final da Libertadores no Maraca! Vem conferir!

كشف مصدر بـ منتخب مصر مواليد 2009، عن موقف وموعد معسكر الفراعنة الصغار القادم ضمن الاستعدادات للمشاركة في بطولة شمال إفريقيا.

ويستعد منتخب مصر تحت 16 سنة، للمشاركة في تصفيات شمال إفريقيا خلال مارس 2026.

ومن المقرر أن تحسم هذه التصفيات تأهل منتخب مصر 2009 إلى نهائيات كأس إفريقيا تحت 17 عامًا 2026، من عدمه.

طالع | مواعيد مباريات منتخب مصر في كأس العالم للناشئين تحت 17 عامًا

وقال المصدر في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات: “المنتخب سيدخل في معسكر من 3 لـ10 نوفمبر في مشروع الهدف”.

وأكمل: “سيسافر المنتخب لمواجهة الأردن في وديتين بالأردن يومي 13 و15 نوفمبر استعدادًا لتصفيات شمال إفريقيا في مارس 2026 المؤهلة لكأس العالم في المغرب”.

Newcastle United’s need for a striker before next Monday’s transfer deadline has never been clearer.

With Alexander Isak still on strike and surely out of action when the Toon visit Leeds United next week, regardless of the outcome of his present situation, it was inconceivable that Anthony Gordon should get himself sent off against Liverpool at St. James’ Park.

The Magpies lost to Liverpool on Tyneside, but it was an incredible contest that showcased all the good of Eddie Howe’s side, even when so much went wrong.

But, even so, the desperate need for a number nine was accentuated, and a bid continues for Premier League forward Jørgen Strand Larsen.

The latest on Strand Larsen to Newcastle

Whether Liverpool sign Isak at some point this week is anyone’s guess, but Newcastle’s bid to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers’ rangy frontman remains a priority focus regardless.

The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope corroborated news on Monday that the Magpies saw a £50m offer rejected for the Norwegian, and they are expected to return with an improved bid.

Hope made it clear that Larsen is being chased with a view toward him succeeding Callum Wilson, who left Tyneside at the end of his contract in June and has since signed for West Ham United.

Strand Larsen scored 14 Premier League goals last season, playing an instrumental role for the Old Gold as they staved off the threat of relegation.

But whether he’s the right frontman for Newcastle, for a figure sure to be in excess of £50m, is another question. Especially when there’s a younger and more exciting name on United’s shortlist.

Newcastle discuss move for Strand Larsen alternative

As per The Athletic, Newcastle have discussed a move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Goncalo Ramos as the transfer window is reduced to less than a week before closure.

Ramos, 24, has struggled to nail down a regular starting berth in Luis Enrique’s super-team, but he’s still showcased his quality across the past two years, and was tracked by the Tynesiders during his Benfica days.

PSG appear open to selling, but the Portugal international wouldn’t come cheap. It’s been mooted this month that Ramos would fetch a fee in the region of £55m.

What Ramos would bring to Newcastle

Ramos has started the 2025/26 season strongly, bagging against Tottenham Hotspur in the dramatic Super Cup victory earlier this month before starting PSG’s Ligue 1 opener against Nantes.

Newcastle’s need for a new number nine borders on desperation, but they won’t let themselves be fleeced. Having seen a £50m offer rejected for Strand Larsen, might it be better to instead invest the set-aside funds in Ramos, whose dynamic profile aligns more with what Howe would need if Isak is to leave St. James’ Park this week.

Hailed for his “outrageous” performances on the international stage by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Ramos is a prolific striker, and no mistake. His clinical value in dangerous positions could admittedly do with some work, but he creates space regularly through expert usage of his mobility and physical attributes, and thus maintains a steady goalscoring flow.

25/26 – PSG

3

1

0

24/25 – PSG

46

19

6

23/24 – PSG

40

14

2

22/23 – Benfica

47

27

8

21/22 – Benfica

46

8

4

20/21 – Benfica

12

4

0

19/20 – Benfica

1

2

0

And, according to data platform FBref, the Iberian striker ranks among the top 5% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues for goals scored,

While Strand Larsen has provided proof of his ability to score goals and perform convincingly in the Premier League, whereas Ramos has not, the latter man has highlighted performances at the highest level, including (but not limited to) that hat-trick at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

14 goals were scored by the 25-year-old in last year’s Premier League edition, but he also completed only 65% of his passes, lost 68% of his duels and averaged just 0.2 dribbles per game, as per Sofascore.

There’s nothing wrong with that; Strand Larsen is a powerful target man, after all. But it’s inconceivable that he should replace Isak, one of the most complete strikers in the business.

Of course, Newcastle chiefs have maintained that their interest in the Scandinavian is linked to Wilson’s departure, and not Isak’s possible exit.

Ultimately, Newcastle could do with two strikers, should Isak leave. Efforts are maintained for Brentford marksman Yoane Wissa, but that’s why Ramos’ profile could be so important for the Tynesiders, injecting dynamic athleticism without detracting from goalscoring, that core tenet of the striker’s game.

Wissa, like Strand Larsen, is limited in terms of technical scope, but he’s still proven himself to be a deadly Premier League striker with impressive link-up play besides. Given that the 28-year-old would ostensibly come at a cheaper price than his Wolves positional peer, he should be the priority.

And, in that case, Ramos must be targeted over a second bid for Strand Larsen, with the Portuguese man sure to bring goals and an electric presence too.

After the past few months of misery on the transfer front, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether Newcastle manage to sign a striker worth their salt – let alone two.

But it’s clear who they should move for after the latest series of rejected bids. Don’t blink: Newcastle are bound to ramp up the gas and seal a signature before the end of the month.

He's like Isak: Newcastle make late approach to sign £61m Wissa alternative

Newcastle continue to search for strikers as the summer transfer window enters the final week.

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Crystal Palace are now looking to sign a £25m centre-back, who is viewed as a ready-made replacement for Marc Guehi, with the captain still expected to sign for Liverpool.

Guehi left fuming after deadline day Liverpool move falls through

Guehi was expected to complete a move to Anfield on deadline day, but the deal fell through, as Palace were unable to bring a suitable replacement through the door in the summer, despite tabling a club-record £37m bid for Inter Milan’s Yann Bisseck.

It has since emerged that the Englishman has been left fuming with the move not going through, despite doing everything right by continuing to honour his contract and play for the Eagles amid widespread speculation over his future.

With less than one year remaining on his contract, the 25-year-old is now poised to leave the South London club on a free, which will be a difficult pill for Steve Parish to swallow, given that he was valued at £60m not too long ago.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Guehi is still edging towards a move to Liverpool, which means Crystal Palace have now set their sights on Chelsea defender Axel Disasi, who is viewed as a ready-made replacement for the centre-back.

It is deemed ‘inevitable’ that Disasi will leave the Blues during the January transfer window, given that he is not a part of Enzo Maresca’s plans, and a move to Selhurst Park could now be on the cards.

The Eagles are thought to be looking to sign the 27-year-old on loan, with previous reports stating Chelsea value the defender at around £25m.

How Disasi compares to Guehi stylistically

The Frenchman could be an improvement on Guehi in some departments, given that he appears to be more comfortable in possession of the ball, although the England international has outperformed the Chelsea man across some key defensive metrics over the past year.

Average per 90

Axel Disasi

Marc Guehi

Passes attempted

58.50

51.02

Pass completion %

87.9%

83.2%

Tackles

1.84

1.85

Blocks

1.01

1.50

That said, while the former AS Monaco man has been lauded as “incredible” in the past, it does not bode well that he is a part of the Chelsea ‘bomb squad’, while he is also thought to have turned down a late move to Selhurst Park.

Theoretically, another four months without playing any football may change his mind, but it remains to be seen whether Disasi is even interested in a move to Selhurst Park this January.

It comes with the territory that everything around India gets magnified, be it good or bad. Barely a press conference has gone by during this Champions Trophy where India’s supposed advantage has not been spoken about.Because of geopolitical issues, India haven’t travelled to the host nation, Pakistan, and have played all their matches – which will now include the final – in Dubai, while other teams have had to travel within Pakistan and then to Dubai to play India. It has been suggested that India benefited on two fronts: that their squad had fewer bases to cover, and that they had a chance to get used to one square unlike any other team in the competition. Coach Gautam Gambhir must have been really annoyed at such insinuations, and dismissed any such talk emphatically even when not directly asked about it.Gambhir was asked if India knew about the conditions in Dubai when they picked five spinners in their squad, three of them allrounders of varying capability. Gambhir came off the long run in response, taking aim at “perpetual cribbers”.Related

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“See, first of all, this is as neutral a venue for us as it is for any other team,” Gambhir said. “We have not played here. I don’t remember when last we played here. And in fact, we didn’t plan anything like that. The plan was that if you pick two frontline spinners in the 15-man squad, then even if we played in Pakistan or anywhere, we would have picked two frontline spinners because this was a competition in the subcontinent.”So it’s not like we wanted to spin a spinners’ web. If you look at it, we only played one frontline spinner in the first two matches. We played two frontline spinners in this match and the previous match.”And there’s a lot of debate about the undue advantage and all that. What undue advantage? We haven’t practised here even for one day. We’re practising at the ICC academy. And the conditions there and here are 180 degrees different. Some people are just perpetual cribbers, man. They’ve got to grow up. I feel that there was nothing like we had any undue advantage.”It is fair to say the vanquished captain Steven Smith is not one of those perpetual cribbers. He played down any advantage for India in the lead-up to the match, and was asked again about it afterwards.2:32

Do India have an unfair advantage at the Champions Trophy?

“Yeah, look, I’m not buying into it,” Smith said. “I think it is what it is. India obviously played some really good cricket here. The surface kind of suits their style with the spinners that they’ve got and the seamers that they have at their disposal for a wicket like that. They played well, they outplayed us, and they deserve the victory.”However, the tournament’s top wicket-taker, Mohammed Shami, did say the familiarity of playing at the same ground has helped him. It doesn’t mean that what he said directly contradicts what Gambhir said. Gambhir had spoken glowingly about how well Shami prepares for matches. So Shami was asked about his preparations.”Main thing is to know the conditions and the behaviour of the pitch well,” Shami said. “Because you are playing at one venue, you have an opportunity to get used to the conditions properly. So, at practice, I keep things simple, and try to bowl according to the pitches for the match.”When asked if it was a benefit to be playing at the same venue, Shami said, “Definitely. Because you get to know the conditions, the behaviour of the pitch. A lot of things… the way the weather was today – cool – your brain works even more. It can be said that it is a plus point that all your matches have been played at the same venue.””What undue advantage? We haven’t practised here even for one day. We’re practising at the ICC academy. And the conditions there and here are 180 degrees different”•Associated Press

Having said all that, India’s unbeaten run into the final of another ICC event will gladden many a heart. India lost only the final in the 2023 ODI World Cup, won the T20 World Cup in 2024 without dropping a match, and have won all four of their matches in the ongoing Champions Trophy. Having been through some tough times in Test cricket recently, Gambhir rejoiced in the “flawless” performance but was wary of India getting ahead of themselves.”You used a very good word that we played ‘flawlessly’,” Gambhir said in response to a question. “I think yes, we did, but we still have one more game to go. We know that we are a good one-day side, and the most important thing is the way we’ve actually played throughout this competition. The hunger, the commitment, and the eagerness to try and do something special for the country is always there in the dressing room.”In international sport, you want to keep improving. You don’t say that you’ve ticked all the boxes. There’s always room to improve. There’s always something to improve, be it in batting, fielding, or bowling. And we still haven’t played a perfect game. We still have one more game to go. Hopefully we can play a perfect game.”And that is the kind of person I am. I will never be satisfied with the performances. We want to keep improving, we want to stay humble, we want to be ruthless on the cricket field, but absolutely humble off the field as well. That’s the kind of team environment and that’s the kind of culture we want to create in that dressing room, and be absolutely honest. So hopefully we can play one more game and play our best game.”

Having already reinforced their frontline with the addition of Thierno Barry, Everton have also reportedly joined the race to sign an impressive 27-goal striker.

The latest in Everton's incomings

The Toffees commenced the transfer window in statement fashion – welcoming Carlos Alcaraz in a permanent deal and talented forward Barry – and have since also welcomed new No.2 Mark Travers. But, if reports are anything to go by, they’re only just getting started. Recent rumours have suggested that The Friedkin Group could even spend as much as £150m on additions this summer.

Top of Everton’s wishlist on that front seems to be Manchester City’s James McAtee. The young midfielder is reportedly looking to leave the Etihad in pursuit of much-needed game time this summer, with a permanent switch to the Hill Dickinson Stadium now among his options.

Even as he struggled to hand McAtee a consistent place in his plans, Pep Guardiola took the time to praise the 22-year-old after he scored a hat-trick against Salford City.

The Spaniard told reporters: “I am so happy for him, he is a special player. A hat trick is not easy. He has an incredible sense in front of goal, he has the right tempo, he changed the rhythm to score and I am very happy for him.”

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McAtee’s not the only name on Everton’s shortlist, however. The Toffees have also reportedly set their sights on Douglas Luiz and former Real Madrid gem Takefusa Kubo.

Attacking targets seem to be the priority in Merseyside too, whether it’s Kubo who arrives or an impressive 27-goal striker this summer.

Everton now battling to sign Mika Biereth

As reported by Caught Offside, Everton are now battling to sign Mika Biereth from AS Monaco this summer. The Toffees are joined by Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Wolves in a very busy race, but the fact that the forward is represented as the same agent as Barry could yet hand those at the Hill Dickinson Stadium an advantage.

Minutes

2,495

2,559

Goals

24

16

Assists

6

4

Scoring a combined 40 goals between them last season, Biereth and Barry would form quite the partnership at Everton. In two moves, David Moyes would go from a fairly blunt attack to an underrated and dangerous frontline.

After watching on as Biereth missed a penalty then went on to score in a 2-1 victory against rivals OGC Nice last season, Monaco boss Adi Hutter told reporters: “This is his mentality, his character. He never gives up and he fights for the team. It is fantastic.”

Six months on from welcoming the Dane into his side, however, and Hutter could be forced to bid farewell if Everton or others get their way this summer. And just like when he swapped Sturm Graz for France in January, Biereth would be more than ready to hit the ground running elsewhere.

Owning a football club is one of the hardest journeys a business person can embark on. However, more recently, we have seen some of the world’s most established stars, celebrities, sportsmen and sportswomen get involved with the task themselves.

From musicians like Ed Sheeran and Stormzy, to actors such as Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, here are some of the biggest celebrity owners in football.

Will Ferrell, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas & Michael Phelps

Leeds United

One of football’s most fascinating ownership structures comes from West Yorkshire. Leeds United were taken over by 49ers Enterprises in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth £170m.

49ers Enterprises Global Football Group LLC is the investment arm of the American football team San Francisco 49ers. In 2018, they purchased a 15% stake in the Championship club, which then increased to 44% in 2021. The American syndicate now has full control of the Whites, who returned to the Premier League in 2025.

The most incredible thing about the investment group is not their multi-club portfolio, but the superstar lineup of celebrities and sports personalities who have now invested in their firm.

They include actors Will Ferrell and Russell Crowe, golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, Olympic legend Michael Phelps and NBA basketball players Larry Nance Jr. and Russell Westbrook – all of whom collectively come under the blanket as Leeds United co-owners.

Magic Johnson, Will Ferrell & Mia Hamm

Los Angeles FC

Speaking of large consortiums, that’s exactly what you’ll find at Los Angeles FC in MLS.

Like his ownership of Leeds United, Will Ferrell is part of a 26-person ownership of LAFC, who joined MLS in 2018 as part of the league’s expansion and won the MLS Cup for the first time in 2022.

The club was also valued at more than $700m (£524m) in February 2020, which was a record for any Major League Soccer team.

Ferrell is a minority owner alongside Golden State Warriors co-owner Peter Guber, NBA legend Magic Johnson, former United States footballer Mia Hamm and her husband, Nomar Garciaparra, who was a baseball player for the Boston Red Sox.

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Mesut Ozil & Kate Upton

Club Necaxa

It’s not quite the consortium that Leeds or LAFC have at their disposal, but Mexican football team Club Necaxa must be credited for attracting some very well-known stars to their club in recent years.

It was reported in 2021 that former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil had joined actor Kate Upton, alongside her husband, MLB pitcher Justin Verlander and fellow Hollywood star Eva Longoria in buying around half the shares of the Liga MX franchise.

This was part of a group formed by real estate investor Al Tylis and Sam Porter, an executive at MLS club D.C. United. More recently, it was revealed that an American duo of actors had also added Necaxa to their already popular portfolio…

Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney

Wrexham AFC

You definitely haven’t heard of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney being part-owners of Necaxa in Mexico, but you will, of course, have heard of the pair’s ownership of Welsh club Wrexham AFC.

If you didn’t know already, Reynolds and McElhenney are the owners of Wrexham, after the pair bought the club for £2m in 2021.

They have since successfully guided their beloved club to the Championship, which is three steps above the National League, where the club resided when they first took over.

Through their company PR McReynolds, they have also recently added Necaxa to their portfolio. It is believed the deal also benefits Wrexham, as part of Necaxa’s ownership group purchased a 5% stake in the club, so expect to see some pre-season friendlies with Welsh and Mexican fans in attendance!

Wrexham in League One: Latest standings, fixtures, results & key dates

FFC has all the latest Wrexham info as they seek promotion from League One, along with a look at the Red Dragons’ journey to where they are today.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Oct 8, 2024

Michael B. Jordan

AFC Bournemouth

You may have watched Bournemouth rock some pretty cool, commemorative-style shirts in recent years. That’s because the Cherries went into the 2024/25 campaign celebrating 125 years since the club was founded, which also caused minority shareholder and Hollywood actor Michael B. Jordan to release two special kits of his own.

Jordan purchased a stake in the club as part of a minority investment group back in December 2022, alongside Bill Foley, who is a shareholder of Hibernian and owns the NHL ice hockey franchise Vegas Golden Knights.

LeBron James

Liverpool

LeBron James became a part-owner of Liverpool in 2011 when he bought a 2% stake in the club for £4.7m.

According to a recent evaluation of the club by accountancy firm KPMG, James’ investment is now worth over £37m, with the club having got itself back to the top of world football by winning the Premier League and Champions League in recent years under the now departed Jurgen Klopp.

In March 2021, it was revealed that James and business partner Maverick Carter had become the first black partners at Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the owners of Liverpool.

The group, who also owns the Boston Red Rox, bought the Merseyside club in 2010 for £300m. Forbes estimated in May 2024 that Liverpool were worth £4.3bn, so it is likely that figure is even higher now.

James already had prior links with FSG, having co-produced a television show with Tom Werner, who has the second-largest stake in FSG behind owner John Henry.

Ed Sheeran

Ipswich Town

Ed Sheeran became Ipswich Town’s part-time owner in August 2024. Sheeran has held a front-of-shirt sponsor on Ipswich’s kits since 2021, and has purchased a 1.4% stake in his beloved club through Gamechanger 20 Ltd, who bought the team from Marcus Evans for £40m three years ago.

However, the club confirmed that the music superstar would not join the board of directors, though he would be awarded with his own executive box at Portman Road, which was personally designed for the 2024/25 season.

The pop star, who has 67.5m monthly listeners on Spotify, also collaborated with the club to design their Suffolk-inspired pink third kit.

Stormzy and Wilfried Zaha

AFC Croydon Athletic

Moving slightly down the leagues, AFC Croydon were bought by UK rapper Stormzy and former Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha.

The club was supporter-owned from 2012 after former team Croydon Athletic struggled financially once it emerged that their owner, Mazhar Majeed, had been jailed for 32 months for his role in a match-fixing scandal.

They play at the Mayfield Stadium in Thornton Heath in the Isthmian League South East Division, which is the eighth tier of English football. Both Zaha and Stormzy grew up in the south London borough of Croydon and are part of a three-man consortium involved with buying the club.

Stormzy grew up in South Norwood, while Zaha spent his childhood on Thornton Heath. Danny Young, former head of player care at Crystal Palace, is the third man involved with buying the club. He spent almost ten years at Palace as the club’s head of kit, a player liaison officer and head of player care.

Tom Brady

Birmingham City

It was announced in August 2023 that seven-time Super Bowl champion and one of the NFL’s greatest-ever players, Tom Brady, would become a part-owner of Birmingham City.

Brady owns 3.3% of the club, but his shares are actually in Shelby Companies Ltd, which was the organisation used by US investment firm Knighthood Capital Management to buy the EFL club last year.

The man who spearheaded that takeover was American hedge fund manager and co-founder of Knighthood Capital Management, Tom Wagner. He bought 45.64% of Birmingham City and St Andrew’s Stadium and it is believed it was his friendly relationship with Brady that attracted the NFL icon to the club.

The pair have worked on previous projects, specifically investing in a major league pickleball team with tennis star Kim Clijsters.

David Beckham

Inter Miami

David Beckham signed for LA Galaxy in 2007 after rising to one of football’s most popular figures at Manchester United and then Real Madrid.

According to sports business expert Joe Pompliano, Beckham made over $50m (£37.4m) of income per season in MLS, which was a 155% increase from the money he made at Real Madrid. Pompliano also claimed Beckham made $800m (£600m) by the time he retired from professional football in 2013.

At LA Galaxy, Beckham’s lucrative contract also included an option to purchase an MLS expansion team at a discounted rate, and he did so with the addition of Inter Miami to his business portfolio in 2018.

Inter Miami made their debut on the pitch in March 2020 and were already the 10th-most valuable MLS franchise – valued at 24 times the original $25m expansion fee.

But that was only the beginning, as in June 2023, Lionel Messi turned down an epic offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal to join Beckham’s side following the conclusion of his contract at PSG.

Since then, the club have won their first major piece of silverware by winning the 2023 Leagues Cup title and continue to dominate viewing and financial figures in MLS, all to the pleasure of Mr Beckham himself.

Nottingham Forest have made an offer to sign a new Brazilian forward who is also wanted by German giants Borussia Dortmund.

Nottingham Forest sign Jair Cunha after Igor Jesus

It has been an extremely eventful few days at the City Ground in the transfer market and in regards to their European spot for the 2025/26 season.

Anthony Elanga has joined Premier League rivals Newcastle United in a deal that could reach £55m, whereas Morgan Gibbs-White has been at the middle of a transfer saga involving Tottenham Hotspur.

There has been a new signing for the Reds, though, with defender Jair Cunha sealing his move to the Midlands from Botafogo. The 6ft 6 defender has been heavily linked with a move to Forest and now joins striker Igor Jesus at the City Ground, who also moved from the Brazilian side.

Nottingham Forest summer signings

From

Fee

Igor Jesus

Botafogo

£10m

Jair Cunha

Botafogo

£10m

Talking after the deal for Cunha was announced, Forest’s chief football officer Ross Wilson said: “Jair is a young talent who has shown quality during his time in Brazil, and we are happy to have secured his signature. Jair has flourished in Brazil and now has new ambitions as he moves to the Premier League. We know he will be warmly welcomed into the group here in Nottingham.”

Nottingham Forest make bid to sign 28 y/o who Spurs want with Gibbs-White

The update comes from the reliable David Ornstein.

ByHenry Jackson Jul 11, 2025

The 20-year-old has signed a five-year deal with Forest and could be an immediate part of Nuno Espirito Santo’s starting line-up next season. The Reds aren’t stopping there though when it comes to looking at the Brazilian market for new additions.

Nottingham Forest make offer for 18 y/o Brazilian forward

According to reports from Brazil, relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest have now made an offer to sign Santos forward Mateus Xavier.

The 18-year-old’s contract is set to expire in 2026, and it is claimed that he has also had enquiries from Borussia Dortmund, PSV Eindhoven and Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Forest are the ones who have made their move with an offer, though, and Xavier’s ‘representatives are considering the best option for him’. However, it is also claimed that Santos has made a new contract offer to Xavier and are confident of a renewal.

Called “highly rated” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Xavier is being backed to make the breakthrough into first team football and is capable of playing as a left winger, right winger or attacking midfielder.

He’s already made five senior appearances for Santos and has scored 10 goals in 36 games for their U20 side, and by the looks of things, Forest are looking to make him the third Brazilian through the door this summer.