Soccer
Who are football's celebrity club owners?
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In one of the summer's more outlandish stories, there have been rumours this week that former AC Milan and Brazil wonderkid Alexandre Pato is set to become a minority owner of League Two Northampton Town.
Pato's interest is part of an ongoing trend that is becoming a more common occurrence, where celebrities are investing in football clubs, both big and small.
From a Hollywood fairytale to a Ballon d'Or winner in Wales, DAZN News had a look at some of the strangest ownerships in football.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney -Â Wrexham
Let's start with probably the most high-profile one of recent times.
Back in 2021, Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney brought Tinseltown to North Wales when they took over Wrexham.
Five years on, it's hard to deny it has been a huge success.
Under their ownership, Wrexham have soared through the English football pyramid, from the National League all the way into the Championship.
The Red Dragons only narrowly missed out on the playoffs last season, but will be aiming for promotion once again as they look to make their way into the Premier League for the first time.
After years of gloom, it's always sunny in Wrexham now.
Wrexham AFC
KSI - Dagenham and RedbridgeÂ
The most recent acquisition on this list, KSI bought a minority stake in Dagenham & Redbridge in March of this year.
The online star amassed millions of followers through YouTube and later ventured into boxing and music.
In his latest venture, he has expressed his desire to make the National League South side into a Premier League mainstay.
Since investing in the club, KSI has already shown off the Daggers to the world.
The 33-year-old livestreamed their match against Hampton & Richmond on his YouTube channel to over 17 million subscribers.
Luka Modric and Snopp Dogg - Swansea CityÂ
Luka Modric and Snoop Dogg, investing in Swansea City. A sentence no one ever thought they would say.
The Real Madrid great became a co-owner in April 2025, with the rapper following suit a couple of months later.
Snoop Dogg is clearly invested in the project, as he attended his first game earlier this year.
However, his plan to turn Swansea into the 'Vegas of Wales' might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Modric just captained Croatia at the World Cup and is still playing club football with AC Milan, and the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner does have familiarity with the English game, playing for Tottenham between 2008 and 2012.
Something about Wales clearly attracts the big names.
Getty
Tom Brady - Birmingham CityÂ
Swapping one football for the other football.
NFL legend Tom Brady touched down in the West Midlands to become a minority owner of Birmingham City in 2023.
Swiftly after his arrival, manager John Eustace was sacked and Wayne Rooney was brought in, lasting only three months as Birmingham went down.
Birmingham went straight back up to the Championship, where they remain, with Brady eager to take the club to the Premier League and turn it into a global powerhouse.
Jane Gershovich / Stringer
Drake - Venezia
Throughout the 2023-24 season, Venezia were in big financial trouble, running the risk of dropping down to the fourth tier of Italian football.
Canadian rapper Drake decided to invest his own money to help keep the club afloat, and come 2026 he's still involved with the club.
The club begins its Serie A campaign in a few weeks after winning the second division title for an immediate return.
The Venetian club have garnered online attention for their fashionable kits, which are manufactured by Nike in partnership with NOCTA, Drake's fashion brand.
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