Bellingham buys minority stake in The Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix

Jude Bellingham ahead of Champions League clash
Jude Bellingham ahead of Champions League clashReuters / Lee Smith

England international Jude Bellingham has ⁠acquired a minority stake in The Hundred ‌franchise Birmingham Phoenix, co-owners Warwickshire County ‌Cricket Club said ‌on Wednesday.

The Real Madrid midfielder ‌will take a 1.2% ‌holding and will focus mainly on community engagement and ‌social projects. Warwickshire will ⁠remain ‌the majority stakeholder with 50.4% ​shares, and Knighthead Capital Management will hold ​48.4%.

"I feel like I owe the city something," the ⁠22-year-old ​said in a statement.

"I was fortunate growing up I had the option of ‌playing cricket and playing football, but some kids don’t have that opportunity. It’s important that if I can get involved in something like this to shine a light on ‌an opportunity for kids, ​then even better."

The sixth ‌season of the tournament, which uses a 100-ball format, runs from July 21 to August 16.