Julius OkorieFormer Manchester United teammates, David Beckham and Gary Neville, have taken their love for English League two side Salford City to the next level.
The duo, have been die-hard fans of the club for years.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe former Man United legends joined forces with U.S.-based businessman, Declan Kelly and Mervyn Davies, the chairman of Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association, to take over the English League Two club.
Previously, Beckham and Neville were part of a consortium that included fellow ex-United players Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Philip Neville.
However, this latest ownership structure sees Butt, Giggs, Scholes, and Philip Neville stepping back as shareholders, although they will retain important roles within the club to contribute their expertise and passion
In a statement, Gary Neville expressed enthusiasm for the future, emphasising a commitment to making football the priority while also focusing on the club’s sustainability over the next four to five years. “I can’t wait for the next part of this journey,” he said.
Beckham, who is also a co-owner of Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, shared his excitement about the deep community roots of Salford City.
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“This club is at the heart of its community,” he said. “It has a rich history, and I am delighted to be a part of the next chapter.”
Only recently, Real Madrid star and Croatia international, Luka Modric bought into Championship side Swansea as investor and co-owner. An elated Modric described his decision to buy into the club as an exciting opportunity, telling the club website: “This is an exciting opportunity. Swansea has a strong identity, an incredible fanbase and the ambition to compete at the highest level.
“Playing at the highest level, I believe I can provide my experience to the club.“My goal is to support the club’s growth in a positive way and to help to build an exciting future.”
If there is one other person keen on investing in the round leather game, it is Nigeria-British pugilist, Anthony Joshua.
The 35-year-old boxer is reportedly tinkering with the idea of investing in Watford FC, currently competing in the English Football League (EFL) Championship.
The two-time world heavyweight champion who has made an estimated $110 million in the course of his career in a recent interview with Seconds Out, expressed his interest in transitioning into more sophisticated investment avenues such as private equity and venture capital funds.
He stated, “As you earn, naturally you want to save. So rather than me spending recklessly, I’m trying to invest money into certain asset classes — and that [Watford] was an opportunity that presented itself.”
He further elaborated on the seriousness of the investment, saying, “Nothing’s come of it yet. It’s a serious investment. If it comes off, it’s one that should do well.”
Joshua foresees a thriving future for the club, especially if they manage to regain their place in the Premier League.
He said, “If they went back to the Premier League, then I’d need to get a shop on Market Street because the traffic that would be coming through Watford would be phenomenal.”
Joshua expressed his support for the team, wishing them the best, regardless of the outcome of his potential investment: “If we don’t do it, then good luck to them anyway because they’re a great team.”
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
