Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds (from proper), his spouse Blake Full of life and Rob McElhenney pose with followers earlier than the English League One soccer match between Wrexham and Charlton Athletic on the Racecourse floor in Wrexham, Wales, on April 26, 2025.
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Jon Tremendous/AP
Nestled on Britain’s south coast within the county of Dorset, Bournemouth is a quintessential English seaside city, identified for its sandy seaside and fish and chips. At the beginning of October, Bournemouth males’s soccer group hosted Fulham, London’s oldest skilled soccer group, for a tightly contested Premier League match.
However though these two soccer groups may appear completely English, they’re each really owned by Individuals. And they don’t seem to be alone: groups like Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United, who’ve followers all over the world, additionally now all have American house owners. In actual fact, greater than half of the 92 groups within the prime 4 leagues in England and Wales have some American possession, whereas Individuals are additionally investing in groups in Scotland and throughout Europe.
“It is a way more reasonably priced choice right into a excessive stage of main sport,” explains Jim Frevola, Bournemouth’s president of enterprise operations. Frevola moved from America to Bournemouth three years in the past to assist run the franchise for billionaire proprietor Invoice Foley.
Frevola compares the costs of British soccer groups to franchises in sports activities just like the NFL and NBA in America. “Groups are going for six, eight billion … the place you might purchase groups within the Premier League for a way more reasonably priced alternative,” Frevola stated. “And, it is the perfect league on this planet of the perfect sport on this planet.”
Since shifting to Bournemouth, Frevola has been struck by the eagerness of English soccer followers. “I by no means thought sports activities was totally different… till I came visiting right here,” Frevola stated. “It wasn’t till two, three months of dwelling right here did I notice that that is their life … that is what folks reside and breathe for. That is particular. That is distinctive.”
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo (proper) scores his aspect’s second objective throughout the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, on Aug. 15, 2025. Each groups are owned by Individuals.
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Ian Hodgson/AP
Well being care and actual property investor Kevin Nagle is the proprietor of Huddersfield, a third-tier group in Yorkshire, which he purchased two years in the past. “I assume as a substitute of claiming the British are coming, we are saying the Individuals are coming,” Nagle joked. “I bought it outright in a extremely brief time frame, sight unseen,” he added. “It wasn’t till after the truth that I got here to Huddersfield to see what it was like. And I used to be very, very completely happy.”
Nagle additionally owns a soccer group in California, Sacramento Republic. However like Jim Frevola, he says there’s one thing particular concerning the richness of British soccer historical past. “It is simply superb after we see a variety of our followers, as a result of their nice, nice, great-grandparents have been watching the group play,” Nagle says. “Will we love our soccer within the U.S.? Sure. However do we’ve got the traditions within the U.Okay.? Completely not.”
The involvement of a number of U.S. celebrities has introduced additional consideration to British soccer groups. Actor Will Ferrell has invested in Leeds, rapper Snoop Dogg in Swansea, and basketball star LeBron James in Liverpool. Equally, actor Michael B. Jordan has a stake in Bournemouth.
A number of the stars have made documentaries about their groups. First, Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds — who was born in Canada — and his fellow actor and producer Rob McElhenney made the documentary Welcome to Wrexham about their journey shopping for the Welsh franchise Wrexham, which is now in its fourth season. This 12 months, ex-NFL participant Tom Brady joined them together with his documentary In-built Birmingham, about turning into co-owner of Birmingham Metropolis Soccer Membership.
Brett Goldstein (from left), Hannah Waddingham, Jason Sudeikis, Juno Temple and the forged and crew from Ted Lasso — about an American faculty soccer coach who’s employed to handle a London soccer group — pose with their awards on the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 19, 2021, in Los Angeles.
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Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
TV fiction has additionally boosted American curiosity in British soccer, notably the profitable TV dramedy Ted Lasso, about an American faculty soccer coach who’s employed to handle a London soccer group. Starring Jason Sudeikis and Brett Goldstein, the present — which has gained a number of Emmys — is about to launch its fourth season subsequent 12 months.
Christina Philippou, an affiliate professor in accounting and sport finance on the College of Portsmouth, stated the celeb involvement in lots of the franchises may be attention-grabbing, it normally takes the type of a minority stake. “They’re able to successfully use their standing to reinforce the picture of the membership and assist deliver in additional exterior revenue notably round industrial partnerships,” Philippou stated.
She defined that whereas English soccer has seen funding from Russia and the Gulf nations over time, the brand new U.S. house owners have made their groups extra industrial, in addition to boosting ladies’s soccer groups at many British franchises. “We have seen a bit bit extra funding in ladies’s soccer inside membership stage … a part of [that] is American cash as a result of historically they have been extra occupied with ladies’s soccer.”
Within the U.S., British soccer has a rising viewers, with as many as 40 million followers, with many watching on CBS, says Ben Wright, chief industrial officer for the English Soccer League — which covers each England and Wales. Wright stated curiosity in soccer in America grew noticeably throughout the pandemic. “It felt like … as a result of folks could not exit and about globally, they have been watching much more,” Wright stated.
In the meantime, Lionel Messi, the Argentinian who many take into account the best soccer participant of all time, performs for the American Main League Soccer group Inter Miami. On prime of that, subsequent summer season’s World Cup is being held collectively by the USA, Canada and Mexico, which specialists hope will solely develop the game.
AFC Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier in motion throughout the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers in Bournemouth, England, on Aug. 23, 2025.
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Sean Ryan/AP
Some soccer followers again in Britain worry that American house owners would possibly need to make adjustments to their league, resembling taking part in league video games within the USA. However Bournemouth’s enterprise supervisor Jim Frevola says that though he’s aiming to develop his group’s fan base again within the USA, there are not any plans for main overhauls. “I believe there’s possibly a false impression that American possession needs to institute [big changes],” Frevola stated. “I’ve heard loopy issues like all-star video games. That is by no means going to occur.”
In a pub close to Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium, most followers are in favor of their American proprietor Invoice Foley. Supporter Ceri Morgan stated that though the marginally elevated ticket costs have been a downside, the funding is evident to see. “The stadium appears lots smarter now and we’re getting an elevated capability subsequent season,” he stated. His fellow life-long fan Dom Webb agreed. “It has been unbelievable. … We have actually strong foundations now, and it feels just like the sky is the restrict,” he stated.
