- Hollywood icon Will Ferrell is reported to be a new Leeds United shareholder
- The Elf actor believes it’s ‘a serious investment opportunity’ with the playoffs just around the corner
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Hollywood icon Will Ferrell bought a “large” stake in Leeds United after falling in love with the English game, according to a new report.
The Elf star is a huge sports fan and in 2016, he became one of the co-owners of MLS side LAFC.
Now he has moved ahead of the football world in England, with Leeds in the play-offs looking to move from the Championship to the Premier League.
The sun on Sunday reports that the 56-year-old has injected a “large” stake into 49ers Enterprises, Leeds’ American owners.
A source said: “It’s true: Will Ferrell owns a share of Leeds.”
Will Ferrell would have acquired a stake in Leeds after falling in love with English football
Leeds missed out on automatic promotion from the Championship, but are in the play-offs
The Elf star is a huge sports fan and became one of the co-owners of MLS side LAFC in 2016.
“The 49ers will announce his participation in the coming days and he is eager to sprinkle some stardust on the club.
“He loves football and has been particularly impressed by the passion of English football.”
The move is seen as “a great investment opportunity” with Leeds potentially just three games away from returning to the Premier League.
While Leicester City and Ipswich Town occupied the automatic promotion spots, Leeds have a two-leg playoff against Norwich City.
A win over the Canaries would see them face either West Brom or Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley on May 26, which could be Ferrell’s first time seeing his new club.
The club’s “huge fan base” has also been cited as one of the reasons behind the business deal, with the source adding: “He knows his football and is determined to help bring back Leeds’ glory days.”
A Leeds spokesperson said: “We would never comment on the status of individual investors.
“It would be up to them to comment on any participation they have in the club.”
If the move is confirmed, Ferrell would join other major Hollywood celebrities with financial investments in football clubs in the English system.
Black Panther actor Michael B Jordan was announced as co-owner of Premier League Bournemouth in 2022 and earlier this year he was reported to be creating a kit for Cherries to wear.
Michael B Jordan is in the process of designing a kit for Premier League club Bournemouth.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have celebrated back-to-back promotions with Wrexham
Ferrell spoke with Ted Lesso actors, Brendan Hunt and Jason Sudeikis, at the first match of LAFC 2024
Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took charge of Wrexham in 2020 and have overseen back-to-back promotions, meaning the North Wales club will play League 1 next season.
In 2023, rapper Stormzy joined a consortium including Wilfried Zaha to buy Combined Counties Premier League Southern Division club Croydon Athletic.
Former Little Mix star Jade Thirwall was one of the fans who helped invest almost £300,000 into South Shields FC in 2020.
In February, Ferrell spoke with Ted Lasso actors Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt during LAFC’s 2-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders in the first game of the 2024 campaign.
