NBA Icon Shaquille O’Neal Set to Join Celebrity Investors in British Football
NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal is set to join a growing list of celebrity investors in British football, with reports suggesting he is looking to buy a stake in Premier League side West Ham United.
In recent years, celebrities and sporting legends have become almost commonplace as investors in British football, with Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking over Welsh side Wrexham in 2021 and detailing their journey to back-to-back promotions in a popular documentary series.
Other notable names involved with EFL clubs include Michael B Jordan (Bournemouth), Will Ferrell (Leeds United), and NFL superstar Tom Brady (Birmingham City’s Advisory Board chairman).
Shaquille O’Neal’s Interest in West Ham United
According to The Sun, Shaquille O’Neal is looking to invest in Premier League side West Ham United. A source told the newspaper: “Shaq loves British football, and he has been talking about putting some serious cash into the club. He went to a game at the end of the season and loved it. It’s now a case of whether the financials stack up for him. Shaq is really interested in what deal he could strike.”
If O’Neal’s investment in West Ham United goes through, he would not be the first NBA player to invest in a Premier League club. His former teammate, LeBron James, has owned a minority stake in Liverpool since 2011. James’ love for the Merseyside club became even more public earlier this year when the club released a shirt in collaboration with the NBA hall of famer.
O’Neal’s Previous Involvement in British Football
Shaquille O’Neal has previously expressed a love for another English club, Northampton Town. In the 2022/23 season, he sent a video message to the club as they sought promotion to League One.
In the video, he said: “First place is where I like to be and it’s great to see you guys at the top. I know what it takes to win championships so make sure you finish strong and do not give up that intensity.”
Northampton went on to secure promotion to League One that season and finished 14th in the English third division in the 2023/24 season.
The potential investment by Shaquille O’Neal in West Ham United is another sign of the growing interest in British football from celebrities and sporting icons. It remains to be seen whether the deal will go through, but it is clear that the appeal of investing in British football is not just limited to the financial rewards but also to the passion and excitement that comes with the sport.
