Warwickshire County Cricket Club, the co-owner of the Birmingham Phoenix team in The Hundred tournament, announced that Real Madrid player Jude Bellingham has acquired a minority stake in the team, in a surprising move outside the world of football, according to the Spanish newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo'.

According to the same source, Bellingham will obtain a 1.2% stake in the team's ownership, focusing this investment on community engagement and social projects.

It is noted that Warwickshire County Club will remain the largest shareholder with 50.4% of the shares, while Knighthead Capital Management owns 48.4% of the ownership.

Bellingham, 22, said: 'I feel I owe something to the city. I was fortunate to grow up with the opportunity to play cricket and football, but some kids do not have this opportunity, and it is important that if I can contribute to highlighting these opportunities for children, it would be better.'