A top American sports star is following in the footsteps of LeBron James and Michael B. Jordan with an investment in a Premier League team
Dexter Fowler is the latest big American sports star to sign for the Premier League.
LeBron James, Ryan Reynolds, Tom Brady and JJ Watt We have already paved that way.
Reynolds and Rob McElhenney own WrexhamThe King has a stake in LiverpoolBrady got engaged City of Birmingham and Watt is a Burnley investor.
Fowler, former Major League Baseball player Baseball (MLB) center fielder who played for the Colorado Rockies, the Houston Astros, Chicago CubsSt. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Angels, is now on that illustrious list as part of the AFC BournemouthThe ownership group is led by billionaire businessman Bill Foley.
According SportsFoley, who also owns the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights, took Fowler under his wing to guide him into the business world.
The 2016 World Series winner sits on the board of marketing firm System1 Inc., which was created after merging with Foley's SPAC Trebia Acquisitions Corp.
Foley took charge of the Premier League club in December 2022, and the sports business outlet recently learned that the former MLB All-Star Fowler is part of the ownership group of the South Coast team.
Creed and Black Panther actor Michael B. Jordan He is also part of the minority ownership group of Vitality Stadium.
In 2023, AFC Bournemouth were valued at $145m, the lowest value of any Premier League club and well below the $1.51bn average.
Fowler earned more than $100 million during his 14-year playing career before retiring in 2021.
In 2017, he signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, including a $10 million signing bonus and an average annual salary of $16.5 million.
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He is one of a number of Bournemouth figures pushing to turn the club into a “global entity” with widespread American interest.
The signing of USMNT captain Tyler Adams (currently sidelined with injury) is expected to help boost the U.S. appeal, as did the team's recent preseason tour of the United States.
Since retiring from Major League Baseball, Fowler, 38, has built his business portfolio with his own production company (Fowlball Productions) and management company (400 Ventures).
He began to try his hand at the world of club ownership by acquiring a stake in Foley's smaller French club, Lorient Athletic Club.
“You have to crawl before you can walk,” Fowler said. saying“I’m a big proponent of being able to be in the right rooms and learn from the right people and go from there.”
“It’s more of a passion thing. I’m just trying to get familiar with the business and learn it.”
Bournemouth were one of nine Premier League teams on the opening weekend of the 2024-25 Premier League season with US investment.
The list also includes Arsenal (Stan Kroenke), Aston Villa (Wes Edens), Chelsea (Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital), Crystal Palace (John Textor, Josh Harris, David Blitzer), Fulham (Shahid Khan), Ipswich City (ORG, BPSP and Avenue Sports), Liverpool (Fenway Sports Group) and Manchester United (Glazer family).
American billionaires are undeniably attracted by the global reach of Premier League clubs. The 2026 World Cup, which will be played predominantly in the United States, has also seen clubs increasingly expand into the lucrative US market.
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Sports franchises are clearly the new multi-million dollar yachts for wealthy business magnates and sportsmen.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is Reportedly interested in buying one of the most iconic teams in America while NBA Superstar Kevin Durant just became a minority shareholder in Paris Saint-Germain.
“BREAKING NEWS: 2-time NBA champion Kevin Durant “has invested in Paris Saint-Germain through Boardroom Sports Holdings, LLC via Arctos Partners, the club's strategic minority investor,” Boardroom tweeted.
Durant, who recently helped the U.S. basketball team win Olympic gold, invested “a few million dollars of his own money” to buy a stake in PSG, according to ESPN.
Slim Reaper's career earnings on the pitch exceed $395 million, while PSG is valued at $4.4 billion.
