According to the Times, Bellingham has purchased a 0.5% stake from each of the franchise's two existing owners, Warwickshire and Knighthead Capital Management, giving him a total 1% share. Birmingham Phoenix is understood to be valued at around £82 million. The football star is a well-known cricket enthusiast who played at junior level for Hagley Cricket Club in Worcestershire. The franchise plays its home fixtures at Edgbaston, Warwickshire's historic ground.
Birmingham Phoenix shares a common owner with Birmingham City Football Club in the form of American investment group Knighthead Capital Management. Knighthead acquired a 49% stake in Birmingham Phoenix for £48 million when the eight franchises were put up for sale last year. Warwickshire holds the remaining 51% stake. During the sale process, Warwickshire made clear to the ECB that they planned to attract another high-profile investor. New owners would ordinarily be prohibited from offloading any shares for a period of five years.
If Bellingham paid £800,000 for his 1% share, £80,000 of that would be redistributed via the ECB to grassroots cricket, with the bulk of the money split between Warwickshire and Knighthead Capital. Last July, the ECB confirmed it had raised in excess of £500 million from the sale of stakes in six teams, with £50 million directed towards grassroots sport.
The investment occurs as franchise sales have taken place across The Hundred. Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly invested in the Trent Rockets through Cain International, paying just under £40 million for a 49% stake. The Sun Group, owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, splashed more than £100 million on a 100% stake in Northern Superchargers. Indian firm RPSG Group, owners of Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL and Durban's Super Giants in the SA20, snapped up 70% of Manchester Originals. Delhi Capitals owners GMR Group acquired 49% of Southern Brave, while US-based outfits Tech Titans and Washington Freedom completed their respective purchases of London Spirit and Welsh Fire.
American NFL legend Tom Brady has ties with Knighthead Capital Management, though the exact nature of his connection to Birmingham Phoenix remains unclear. Several unknowns persist, including whether Bellingham's investment has been officially confirmed by Birmingham Phoenix or the ECB, and what specific role he will have as a co-owner beyond his financial stake. The exact date and time of a reported Wednesday unveiling event has not been disclosed, and it remains unconfirmed whether the reported £800,000 investment figure is final.