The ties between Black culture and the beautiful game are on a permanent growth trajectory. One of the ways this is most clearly reflected is in Black ownership within the sport of soccer.
To start, let’s look at members of our own Black Star Advisory Board—Maurice Edu, Angela Hucles, and Cobi Jones. Mo has ownership in the NWSL club from San Francisco that debuted this year, Bay FC. And Angela and Cobi both have ownership in LA’s NWSL club, Angel City FC.
Beyond our own Black Star family, there are plenty of mega star owners including some of the best to ever do it. Let's start with basketball.
LeBron James, arguably the greatest basketball player ever, has ownership stakes in both Liverpool and AC Milan. Kevin Durant, another all-time great, has a big footprint in soccer, with newly-acquired ownership stakes in PSG, Philadelphia Union, and NJ/NY Gotham FC. Russell Westbrook, one of the most dynamic and athletic NBA guards ever has ownership in Leeds United. Showtime Laker and one of the best passing guards ever, Magic Johnson, has ownership in LAFC. And WNBA rookie Angel Reese has even gotten in on the ownership action by investing in DC Power FC.
On the gridiron, football great and Kansas City’s adopted son, Patrick Mahomes, has ownership in Sporting Kansas City and the Kansas City Current. Former Seattle Seahawks' running back, Marshawn Lynch aka "Beast Mode," is an owner and investor in the Oakland Roots. His former teammate and now Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Russell Wilson, is an owner and investor of the Seattle Sounders.
On the hardcourt, tennis GOAT Serena Williams is an owner of Angel City FC, alongside her husband and their daughter. Naomi Osaka, winner of four grand slams, is an owner and investor in the North Carolina Courage.
On the silver screen and the concert stage, there are plenty of A-listers with investments in the sport. Hollywood megastar, Michael B. Jordan, has ownership in AFC Bournemouth and recently designed the club's jerseys for their U.S. preseason tour. Actress Gabrielle Union and musical artist Ciara are each part of a soccer-owning power couples. Union is an owner of Angel City FC, while her husband and all-time great NBA 2-guard, Dwyane Wade, is an owner of Real Salt Lake. Ciara and Russell Wilson are co-owners of the Seattle Sounders.
Drake, the globally-known Canadian rapper has ownership in AC Milan and recently helped raise $40 million to save Venezia FC from bankruptcy. In addition to being a part-owner, Drake's Nike sub-label, NOCTA, is the club's jersey supplier for the 2024-25 season.
And there’s plenty more. Take a look below for a more comprehensive list of Black celebrity ownership within soccer.
We know soccer is the past and present, but these celebrities also seem to recognize it’s the future, too.
Black athletes and celebrities investing in soccer
Black actors, actresses, musicians
Here's a longer list of Black actors, actresses, and musicians who have invested in soccer.
Full Name | Background | Team(s) |
Uzo Aduba | Actor / actress | Angel City FC |
Sway Calloway | Music | Oakland Roots |
Ciara | Music | Seattle Sounders |
Drake | Music | A.C. Milan, Venezia |
Yo Gotti | Music | D.C. United |
Crystal Renee Hayslett | Actor / actress | DC Power Football Club |
Michael B. Jordan | Actor / actress | AFC Bournemouth |
Gabrielle Union | Actor / actress | Angel City FC |
Black athletes, current and former
From the Greek Freak to P.K. Subban, here's a longer list of Black athletes with investments in soccer.
Full Name | Background | Team(s) |
Jozy Altidore | Soccer | Bay FC |
Giannis Antetokounmpo | Basketball | Nashville SC |
DaMarcus Beasley | Soccer | Ft. Wayne FC |
Ruthie Bolton | Basketball | Oakland Roots SC / Oakland Soul SC |
Shannon Boxx | Soccer | Angel City FC |
Calen Carr | Soccer | Oakland Roots SC / Oakland Soul SC |
Kevin Durant | Basketball | PSG, Philadelphia Union, NY/NJ Gotham FC |
Maurice Edu | Soccer | Bay FC |
James Harden | Basketball | Houston Dynamo / Houston Dash |
Angela Hucles | Soccer | Angel City FC |
Andre Iguodala | Basketball | Leeds United, Bay FC |
Mark Ingram II | Football | D.C. United |
LeBron James | Basketball | Liverpool, A.C.Milan |
Magic Johnson | Basketball | LAFC, Washington Spirit |
Josh Johnson | Football | Oakland Roots SC / Oakland Soul SC |
Cobi Jones | Soccer | Angel City FC |
Jason Kidd | Basketball | Oakland Roots SC / Oakland Soul SC |
Marshawn Lynch | Football | Oakland Roots SC / Oakland Soul SC |
Patrick Mahomes | Football | Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City Current |
Naomi Osaka | Tennis | North Carolina Courage |
Candace Parker | Basketball | Angel City FC |
Angel Reese | Basketball | DC Power Football Club |
Brianna Scurry | Soccer | Washington Spirit |
Danielle Slaton | Soccer | Bay FC |
P. K. Subban | Hockey | Angel City FC |
Dwyane Wade | Basketball | Real Salt Lake |
Tim Weah | Soccer | Brooklyn FC |
Russell Westbrook | Basketball | Leeds United |
Serena Williams | Tennis | Angel City FC |
Russell Wilson | Football | Seattle Sounders |
Comments