Will Ferrell has bought a minority stake in Championship side Leeds United, following in the footsteps of fellow Hollywood superstar Ryan Reynolds, who is a co-owner of Wrexham
Will Ferrell’s decision to invest in Leeds could sound the starting gun on a streaming battle between the Whites and League One Wrexham.
The Dragons’ rise from the National League to the third tier under the ownership of Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has been documented in Disney’s hit documentary series ‘Welcome To Wrexham’.
Ferrell was even featured in an episode of the show as he visited the club in February last year. Having had a close-up view of the work McElhenney and Reynolds have undertaken at the Racecourse Ground, Ferrell has decided to invest in English football himself.
The legendary actor is already a co-owner of MLS side Los Angeles FC, who have twice won the Western Conference and the Supporters Shield, as well as lifting the MLS Cup in 2022, since their formation in 2018.
Ferrell has now opted to move across the Atlantic Ocean and buy a stake in Championship side Leeds. According to The Sun, Ferrell’s presence at Elland Road could lead to streaming giants competing to film a lucrative documentary series on the Whites.
Amazon previously followed the team during their first two seasons under Marcelo Bielsa’s management, during which they won promotion to the Premier League. They finished third in the Championship this campaign, having been relegated from the top-flight last term.
They will now face Norwich City in the play-offs, with a trip to Carrow Road first up on Sunday before the return leg at Elland Road next Thursday. They have now received investment from Ferrell, who has bought a small stake.
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He has joined fellow actor Russell Crowe, Olympic legend Michael Phelps and golf star Jordan Spieth in investing in Leeds. Majority owners 49ers Enterprises remain in day-to-day control of the club.
They own 44 percent of the club, having completed their full takeover last summer following relegation to the second tier. The group is the investment arm of NFL team the San Francisco 49ers.
It is split into two sections: general partners and limited partners. The first group are the main financial players in Yorkshire and are the source of the most serious funding.
That includes Australian businessman Peter Lowy, Leeds vice-president Rudy Cline-Thomas and Jed York, whose family is behind the 49ers NFL franchise. The second group of limited partners is mainly made up of celebrities, whose investment is at a lower level to the general partmers.
Ferrell is understood to fall into this category, alongside Crowe, Phelps and Speith. As a result, he will have little day-to-day involvement at Elland Road, with LAFC his main focus instead.
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