Black celebrities investing in soccer teams

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgYz7AQFKS0

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGK-pgPLheM

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDWakvz-BYc

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
Issa Rae	Actor / actress	San Diego FC
Tems	Music	San Diego FC
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
Jerami Grant	Basketball	D.C. United
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	Everton, 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