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Black celebrities investing in soccer teams

Updated: Aug 28



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


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