Tranmere A$AP Rocky Investment - Who Could Be The Next Wrexham?
In recent years, the English soccer pyramid has seen an influx of celebrity investors, most notably Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney at Wrexham and Tom Brady at Birmingham City.
Both clubs seem to be benefitting from the financial boosts as Birmingham and Wrexham are favorites on football betting sites to win promotion to the Championship.
Reports have emerged that U.S. rapper A$AP Rocky is part of an investment group interested in purchasing an 80% stake in League Two side Tranmere Rovers.
Presumably, the ultimate goal for any celebrities investing in an English soccer club in the lower leagues is to get to the holy grail, the Premier League—where any return on investment can be maximized.
According to the Deloitte Sports Business Group, in the 2022/23 season, Premier League clubs’ revenue increased by 11% to an all-time high of $7.8 billion.
With the Premier League expanding into new territories and a staggering 1.87 billion people now following it worldwide, celebrities have their eye on the prize of Premier League status and the massive financial rewards.
With the Birkenhead club looking increasingly likely to receive investment from A$AP Rocky, Gambling.com created markets on which English clubs are the most attractive for celebrity investment and which celebrities are most likely to be next to invest in an English soccer club.
English Clubs That Could Be Bought By Celebrities
Club | Odds | Probability |
Tranmere Rovers | -300 | 75% |
Reading | +200 | 33.3% |
Charlton Athletic | +300 | 25% |
Bradford City | +400 | 20% |
Milton Keynes Dons | +600 | 14.3% |
Port Vale | +800 | 11.1% |
Wigan Athletic | +1000 | 9.1% |
Oldham Athletic | +1200 | 7.7% |
Notts County | +1400 | 6.7% |
Rochdale | +1600 | 5.7% |
Bolton Wanderers | +2000 | 4.8% |
In the English pyramid are some clubs that you would consider ‘sleeping giants’: a club with a large loyal fan base, a large stadium compared to rivals within their respective leagues, and an extensive history within English soccer.
Location is another key factor, as being in or close to a major population center and having good transport links facilitates the club’s growth—which is essential to keeping up with any success on the pitch.
Tranmere are understandably the odds-on favorites at -300 in the market after reports that A$AP Rocky is close to purchasing a stake in the club as part of an investment group led by celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina.
However, there are other clubs that would also appeal to celebrities looking to invest—Reading (+200), Charlton Athletic (+300), and Bradford City (+400) are prime candidates.
All three clubs have played in the Premier League, have a loyal fan base, are located near cities, and are primed and ready to be sold.
The English leagues are littered with clubs with huge potential, such as Milton Keynes Dons (+600), Port Vale (+800), Wigan Athletic (+1000), Oldham Athletic (+1200), Notts County (+1400), Rochdale (+1600), and Bolton Wanderers (+2000).
They all have attractive qualities: significantly sized stadiums for their league, are located near a major city, and have a strong fan foundation guaranteeing ticket sales.
The right investment and promotion from a high-profile celebrity could return them back to where they feel they belong.
With Reynolds and McElhenney demonstrating what can be achieved in a short space of time at an EFL club that has fallen on hard times, which other celebrities could take inspiration from their Welsh experience?
Potential Celebrity English Club Owners
Celebrity | Odds | Probability |
A$AP Rocky | -400 | 80% |
Natalie Portman | +300 | 20% |
Robbie Williams | +400 | 25% |
Hugh Jackman | +600 | 14.3% |
Matthew McConaughey | +800 | 11.1% |
Mark Wahlberg | +1000 | 9.1% |
Drew Carey | +1200 | 7.7% |
Kate Upton | +1400 | 6.7% |
Reese Witherspoon | +1600 | 5.9% |
Patrick Mahomes | +1800 | 5.3% |
Similar to Tranmere in the club market, A$AP Rocky is the clear favorite to be the next celebrity to invest in an English club.
Many other U.S. celebrities have already dipped their toe in the MLS and the Liga MX soccer investment game.
Natalie Portman (+300) owns the women’s soccer team Angel City FC and celebrity friends America Ferrera, Mia Hamm, Sophia Bush, Abby Wambach, and Eva Longoria.
Their knowledge of the sport, coupled with their financial resources, could lead this group to seek a similar investment opportunity abroad.
Mark Wahlberg, Robbie Williams, and Hugh Jackman have close ties to investing in sports or have a passion for the game. Williams (+400) has been linked to purchasing his boyhood club, Port Vale.
Jackman (+600) has been spotted alongside Reynolds at Wrexham games and is an avid Norwich City fan. Wahlberg (+1000) has invested in a Caribbean cricket team, and if he decides to diversify his portfolio, an English soccer club could be next.
Other U.S. celebrity soccer investors include Matthew McConaughey (+800) at Austin FC, Drew Carey (+1200) at Seattle Sounders FC, Kate Upton (+1400) at Club Necaxa, Reese Witherspoon (+1600) at Nashville SC, and Patrick Mahomes (+1800) at Kansas City Current.
Mahomes could follow in the footsteps of fellow NFL superstar Brady by purchasing a stake in the English game. Brady bought a share in Birmingham City in August 2023.
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