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, recognized for its sandy seashore and fish and chips. Initially 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 might sound solely 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 world wide, additionally now all have American house owners. The truth is, greater than half of the 92 groups within the high 4 leagues in England and Wales have some American possession, whereas Individuals are additionally investing in groups in Scotland and throughout Europe.
“It’s a much more affordable option into a high level of major 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. “Teams are going for six, eight billion … where you could buy teams in the Premier League for a much more affordable opportunity,” Frevola mentioned. “And, it’s the best league in the world of the best sport in the world.”
Since shifting to Bournemouth, Frevola has been struck by the eagerness of English soccer followers. “I never thought sports was different… until I came over here,” Frevola mentioned. “It wasn’t until two, three months of living here did I realize that this is their life … this is what people live and breathe for. That’s special. That’s unique.”
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo (proper) scores his aspect’s second aim in the course of 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 guess instead of saying the British are coming, we say the Americans are coming,” Nagle joked. “I purchased it outright in a really short period of time, sight unseen,” he added. “It wasn’t until after the fact that I came to Huddersfield to see what it was like. And I was very, very 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’s just amazing when we see a lot of our fans, because their great, great, great-grandparents were watching the team play,” Nagle says. “Do we love our soccer in the U.S.? Yes. But do we have the traditions in the U.K.? Absolutely not.”
The involvement of a number of U.S. celebrities has introduced further 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 few 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 yr, ex-NFL participant Tom Brady joined them together with his documentary In-built Birmingham, about changing 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 received a number of Emmys — is ready to launch its fourth season subsequent yr.
Christina Philippou, an affiliate professor in accounting and sport finance on the College of Portsmouth, mentioned the superstar involvement in lots of the franchises will be attention-grabbing, it normally takes the type of a minority stake. “They are able to effectively use their status to enhance the image of the club and help bring in more external income particularly around commercial partnerships,” Philippou mentioned.
She defined that whereas English soccer has seen funding from Russia and the Gulf international locations over time, the brand new U.S. house owners have made their groups extra business, in addition to boosting ladies’s soccer groups at many British franchises. “We’ve seen a little bit more investment in women’s football within club level … part of [that] is American money because traditionally they’ve been more interested in women’s football.”
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 business officer for the English Soccer League — which covers each England and Wales. Wright mentioned curiosity in soccer in America grew noticeably in the course of the pandemic. “It felt like … because people couldn’t go out and about globally, they were watching a lot more,” Wright mentioned.
In the meantime, Lionel Messi, the Argentinian who many contemplate the best soccer participant of all time, performs for the American Main League Soccer group Inter Miami. On high of that, subsequent summer season’s World Cup is being held collectively by the USA, Canada and Mexico, which consultants hope will solely develop the game.
AFC Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier in motion in the course of 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 may need to make modifications to their league, akin to 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 think there’s maybe a misconception that American ownership wants to institute [big changes],” Frevola mentioned. “I’ve heard crazy things like all-star games. That’s never going to happen.”
In a pub close to Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium, most followers are in favor of their American proprietor Invoice Foley. Supporter Ceri Morgan mentioned that though the marginally elevated ticket costs have been a downside, the funding is obvious to see. “The stadium looks a lot smarter now and we’re getting an increased capacity next season,” he mentioned. His fellow life-long fan Dom Webb agreed. “It’s been incredible. … We’ve got really solid foundations now, and it feels like the sky’s the limit,” he mentioned.
