ELF movie star Will Ferrell has bought a “major” stake in Leeds United FC after falling in love with English football.
A film legend has pumped a “major” stake in American owners 49ers Enterprises as the Championship side prepare for the play-offs – and a potential return to the Premier League.
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Will Ferrell has made a significant investment in the owners of Leeds United — reportedly becoming a huge fan of English footballCredit: Getty
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Sources say the Elf and Anchorman star is now a proud Leeds supporter Credit: Rex Features
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Will pictured with Ryan Reynolds and David Beckham at Wembley in May 2022, watching Wrexham lose to Bromley in the FA Trophy Final Credit: BackGrid
Sources close to Anchorman star Will say he is now a proud Leeds supporter after falling in love with English football and can’t wait to cheer them on at Elland Road.
An insider told The Sun on Sunday: “It’s true – Will Ferrell owns a stake in Leeds.
“The 49ers will announce his signing in the coming days and look forward to him sprinkling some stardust around the club.
“He loves football and was particularly impressed by the passion of the English game.
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“His aim now is to see Leeds where they belong – in the Premier League. As far as Will and the 49ers are concerned, this is a serious investment opportunity.”
Will – whose net worth is estimated at £127m and is part owner of Los Angeles FC – enjoyed a tour of England games last season.
He struck up an unusual friendship with England star Jack Grealish during a surprise TV appearance at the Etihad last February, where he watched Manchester City’s 3-1 win against Aston Villa.
He also saw Wrexham, who are co-owned by fellow Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds, beat Wealdstone 3-1 in the same away game, enjoying a pint in the pub before the game.
It is expected that in a few days he will be presented as a major investor at Elland Road, one of the most famous football grounds.
A source said: “Although they are not in the Premier League at the moment, everyone in football recognizes that Leeds is a big club with a huge fan base.
How Christmas classic Elf was plagued by secret problems – including star hating ‘unfunny and boring’ Will Ferrell
“Many call them a ‘sleeping giant’ of which Will is well aware.
“He knows his football and is determined to help Leeds get back to their glory days.
‘Huge pedigree’
“The club is a big name throughout Europe, not only in England. It has a huge pedigree and history.
“Clearly there is a rich market for him to tap into – both financially and sportingly.”
Daniel Farke’s side today missed out on automatic promotion which would have seen them return directly to the Prem after last season’s relegation.
But Leeds will now compete in the multi-million pound play-offs – and new investor Will could watch his side for the first time in a potential final at Wembley on May 26.
The club is a big name throughout Europe, not only in England. It has a huge pedigree and history
Source
He is one of a group of investors in the San Francisco-based 49ers – the £4bn giant who bought Leeds last June.
And the film star and producer – famous for his roles as Buddy the elf and news presenter Ron Burgundy – was a surprise guest on Sky Sports on his trip to the Etihad last year.
Wearing an LAFC hat, he grabbed pundit Gary Neville’s microphone and joked: “We’ve heard enough from Gary – we’re sick of Gary.”
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Will is best known for playing the elf Buddy in the classic Christmas comedy Credit: Alamy
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He is also known for his role as Ron Burgundy in AnchormanCredit: Alamy
He revealed he played alongside fellow pundit Roy Keane in a Soccer Aid match and joked he was scouting. Will said: “I’m on a recruitment drive for LAFC – I’ll see if Man City measure up to that.
“I don’t really have a side here – I just enjoy following all the stories – it’s obviously a very good league.”
City star Grealish, a boyhood Aston Villa fan, met the prankster and posted selfies, asking him: “Did we just become best friends??? What a man.”
Will later joked on his official page: “Great to meet my new British friend Jack Grealish at the Etihad today.
“He told me to buy Birmingham City and get relegated to League Two.”
‘Serious investment’
Unbelievably, in today’s dramatic day at the bottom of the Championship, that is what happened.
Will was also at Wembley in May 2022 alongside Reynolds and former England captain David Beckham, watching Wrexham lose to Bromley in the FA Trophy final.
Reynolds and fellow Hollywood star Rob McElhenney produced the hit TV documentary ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ which featured their sensational arrival in 2020 followed by back-to-back promotions.
But insiders close to the Leeds deal said their new investor has no plans to make his own drama.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “As far as Will and the 49ers are concerned, this is a serious investment opportunity.
“He’s a Leeds fan now and will be cheering the team on, but he won’t be bringing a film crew with him – that’s not in his plans at all.”
Another Hollywood A-lister and fellow Leeds investor is Russell Crowe, who watched the Match of the Day side growing up in New Zealand.
He is now a Leeds fan and will cheer on the team, but will not bring the film crew with him
Source
He declared his allegiance to the West Yorkshire club – whose stars include Patrick Bamford and Crysencio Summerville – after being urged to invest in Wrexham FC.
The Gladiator star said: “I’m really impressed with Ryan and Rob and what they’re achieving, but I’m not part of it.
“However, I now have a very small financial connection to LUFC through the 49er family.”
It comes as a string of rich stars are piling money aside.
They include rapper Stormzy, who last year joined a consortium including former Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha to buy Croydon Athletic.
Delighted fans of the Combined Counties League Premier Division South club said they hoped it “could be our moment at Wrexham”.
Creed and Black Panther star Michael B Jordan has been named part-owner of AFC Bournemouth side Prem 2022.
He later revealed that his soccer kick was “crazy and unbelievable” but full of potential.
Basketball legend LeBron James invested in a two percent stake in Liverpool’s owners in 2011, reportedly for around £5.1 million.
Just over a decade later, LeBron and business partner Maverick Carter traded their stake for part ownership of Fenway Sports Group for an undisclosed fee.
In 2020, former Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall was among more than 750 fans who invested more than £280,000 in South Shields FC.
Asked about Will’s link with Leeds, a club spokesman said today: “We would never comment on the status of individual investors.
“It is up to them to comment on any stake they have in the club.”
The billionaire couple Marie Denise Bartelo York (73) and her husband John (75) run the San Francisco 49ers.
Buying Leeds was his first football investment and John York now sits on the board.
A spokeswoman for the 49ers declined to comment.
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Patrick Bamford and Crysencio Summerville are among the stars of Leeds UnitedCredit: Alamy
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Source: newstars.edu.vn