NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal is set to join celebrity investors in British football, as he looks to buy a stake in a top London club.
Celebrities and sporting legends have become almost commonplace as investors in British football in recent years.
Most famously, Holywood star Ryan Reynolds joined Rob McElhenney as they took over Welsh side Wrexham in 2021, detailing the journey to back-to-back promotions in a popular documentary series.
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However, other names involved with EFL clubs are Michael B Jordan, who is part-owner of Bournemouth, Will Ferrell, who holds a small stake in Leeds United and NFL superstar Tom Brady, the chairman of Birmingham City’s Advisory Board.
And reports now suggest that Shaquille O’Neal is looking to throw his hat into the ring by investing in Premier League side West Ham United.
A source told The Sun: “Shaq loves British football, and he has been talking about putting some serious cash into the club.
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“He went to a game at the end of the season and loved it.
“It’s now a case of whether the financials stack up for him. Shaq is really interested in what deal he could strike.”
The deal would not be the first time an NBA player has invested in a Premier League club, with former teammate LeBron James owning a minority stake in Liverpool since 2011.
James’ love of the Merseyside club became even more public earlier this year when the club released a shirt in collaboration with the NBA hall of famer.
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O’Neal’s has previously expressed a love for another English club, with the star sending a video message to Northampton Town as they sought promotion to League One in the 2022/23 season.
Speaking in the video, he said: “First place is where I like to be and it’s great to see you guys at the top.
"I know what it takes to win championships so make sure you finish strong and do not give up that intensity.”
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Northampton went on to secure promotion to League One that season and finished 14th in the English third division in the 2023/24 season.
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Topics: Football, Lebron James, Leeds United, Liverpool, Premier League, West Ham United, Wrexham, Shaquille ONeal
Ben McCrum