Jude Bellingham buys one per cent stake in Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix

England footballer Jude Bellingham has bought a one per cent stake in The Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix, the Press Association understands.

The Real Madrid midfielder, who began his career with Birmingham, is thought to have invested around £800,000 in the Edgbaston-based team.

The Phoenix franchise was valued at around £82million after American investment fund Knighthead Capital acquired a 49 per cent stake during the sales process initiated by the England and Wales Cricket Board, organiser of The Hundred, last year.

County host club Warwickshire retained the other 51 per cent. It is understood Bellingham has bought around a 0.5 per cent stake from each party.

Bellingham, 22, is known to be a cricket lover and played the game for Hagley in Worcestershire as a junior.

As a footballer, he came through the youth ranks at Birmingham before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020 and then signing for Real Madrid three years ago.

The deal, which was first reported by The Cricketer, is set to be officially confirmed on Wednesday.