Is ASAP Rocky Buying a Soccer Team?
ASAP Rocky is known for being a rapper and boyfriend/baby daddy to Rihanna, and he might be adding the owner of a soccer team to that list. Although nothing has been confirmed, rumors are swirling that he will invest in the English soccer team Tranmere Rovers. One of the team's joint owners said he wants a deal to sell the club finalized "ASAP," which has only fueled the rumors. The rapper will supposedly buy 80% of the club for around $15 million.
ASAP Rocky and Rihanna (Getty Images)
The Tranmere Rovers are based in Merseyside, England, near Liverpool. They compete in League Two of the English Football League, the fourth-level league, which is basically the fourth-best league in the country. It is unknown whether ASAP Rocky has any personal link to the team. Still, he is not the only American celebrity who has invested in an English soccer team recently.
Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney famously bought Welsh team Wrexham AFC in 2021 and revolutionized the club. Director and actor Michael B Jordan invested in Bournemouth at the end of 2022. Tom Brady became a part owner of Birmingham City FC last year, and former NFL player JJ Watt owns shares at Burnley. Golfers Jordan Speith and Justin Thomas, NFL quarterback Russell Westbrook, and comedy actor Will Ferrell are all minority owners of Leeds United as well.
These investments show the growing popularity of soccer in the US, including the increased coverage that English soccer is getting. Other American sports have traditionally overshadowed soccer, but European leagues have secured more time on American broadcasting networks, reflecting the demands of the viewers. Additionally, the USA is hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, representing a major milestone in the domestic growth of the sport. The event is expected to ignite even more interest in soccer across North America and has the potential to be a powerful catalyst for its future in America.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, owners of Wrexham FC
The acquisition of Wrexham FC by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has significantly transformed both the club and the surrounding county, elevating the team to a household name. Wrexham now competes in League One, which is a tier above Tranmere Rovers. Additionally, a semi-professional women's team has been formed. Not only from a results perspective, the city benefitted from over £151 million in visitor spending in 2022, a 51% increase compared to the year before. The economy in the entire North Wales region has been boosted, mainly by tourism. The increase in revenue from tourism has allowed for the implementation of projects like The Wrexham Gateway Project to improve the local area, and this has all occurred because of the investment made by two Hollywood actors.
The transformation was documented in the Disney+ docuseries "Welcome to Wrexham," which brought global attention to the small Welsh club. The show expanded the team's fanbase and brought a compelling, behind-the-scenes look at the impact of their investment on the team and local community. Wrexham has since become a symbol of hope and revitalization for underdog clubs worldwide.
The Women’s Wrexham Team (Getty Images)
The owners have also invested in Wrexham's women's team. After a post-COVID reconfiguration of Welsh women's soccer, they applied for a license to be in the top league and gained semi-professional status if they won promotion. There has been investment in the youth academy. The owners attend women's games just as much as men's, and they organized a shared parade when both teams were promoted to a new league in the 2022-23 season, proving this one-club mentality.
An unprecedented highlight for Wrexham's women's team was a preseason tour of the United States, which offered players an opportunity to compete on a larger stage and gain international experience. This exposure, practically unimaginable a few years ago, reflects the broader growth and ambition now defining the club.
If ASAP Rocky does invest in the Tranmere Rovers, the question will be: Will Tranmere be the next Wrexham?