American sports stars have become an increasingly visible part of European football ownership. NBA champions, NFL legends and major-winning golfers have bought stakes in clubs across England and France, extending their business interests into a sport with a global audience.
Jason Kidd
NBA Hall of Famer Jason Kidd joined Everton’s ownership group in April 2025 through Roundhouse Capital Holdings, part of The Friedkin Group. The Dallas Mavericks coach arrived as Everton prepared to move into its new waterfront stadium. “I’m honoured to be joining Everton’s ownership at such an important moment, with a new stadium on the horizon and a bright future ahead,” Kidd said. His investment added another major American sports figure to Everton’s ownership group.
Tom Brady
Tom Brady became a minority owner of Birmingham City in August 2023 and joined the club’s advisory board. Birmingham won the League One title in April 2025 and earned promotion to the Championship. “Birmingham City is an iconic club with so much history and passion, and to be part of the Blues is a real honor for me,” Brady said when his involvement was announced.
LeBron James
LeBron James entered European football ownership in 2011, when he acquired a minority stake in Liverpool. His investment was later converted into a stake in Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s parent company, in 2021. James has remained publicly connected to the club while expanding a business portfolio that reaches well beyond basketball.
J.J. Watt
J.J. Watt and his wife, former United States international Kealia Watt, became minority investors in Burnley in 2023. They quickly embraced a public role around the club and its community. Burnley returned to the Premier League in 2025, securing automatic promotion alongside Leeds United.
Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas
Golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas invested in Leeds United in 2023 through 49ers Enterprises. Their arrival followed the club’s relegation from the Premier League, but Leeds earned its return to the top flight two years later. Spieth described the investment as an opportunity tied to a historic club in a major city.
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook also became a minority investor in Leeds in 2023 through 49ers Enterprises. The NBA star joined an ownership group that already included several prominent American athletes, adding another recognizable name to the club’s expanding United States profile.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant acquired a minority stake in Paris Saint-Germain through Arctos Sports Partners in 2024. The deal added PSG to a sports investment portfolio that already included stakes in Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union and the NWSL’s Gotham FC. Durant’s move placed him alongside James and Westbrook among NBA stars with an interest in European football ownership. Durant’s PSG investment was announced shortly after the Paris Olympics.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal has been linked with a possible investment in West Ham United, but no deal has been confirmed. Unlike the other athletes on this list, he remains a prospective investor rather than a club owner.
