Real Madrid and England's Jude Bellingham feels he "owes" the city of Birmingham after he was announced as a new investor in The Hundred's Birmingham Phoenix ahead of the 2026 season.
The former Birmingham City midfielder will take a keen interest in community engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, with increasing participation in cricket, and bringing people from different backgrounds together through the power of sport.
Bellingham, who grew up in Stourbridge, will take 1.2 per cent of the equity, with Warwickshire County Cricket Club maintaining majority control with 50.4 per cent, and Birmingham City owners Knighthead Capital Management - for whom NFL legend Tom Brady acts as a minority investor - holding 48.4 per cent.
Upon announcing his involvement with the Phoenix, Bellingham said: "I feel like I owe the city something. And this feels like a good way."
In an interview with Warwickshire CCC, Bellingham spoke of his love for cricket, saying he and his brother Jobe used to "scrap" when playing it growing up and that it's now his "favourite thing to watch outside football".
He added: "In my case, I always felt like Birmingham was a place where everyone wanted to see everyone do well. It was a place where I was lucky enough to kind of grow up and people would push you to want to be better than you were - or to be the best.
"It wasn't like other areas that I've been to where it's very cutthroat and a bit ruthless. I find that everyone cares for one another really well.
"That's one of the main values that I try and take with me when I've been to Germany, now in Spain, and all over the world to play. I want to kind of show people, show the world that where I come from is an amazing place with amazing values."
Bellingham's investment is part of a wider shake-up in the 100-ball-a-side tournament ahead of the 2026 season, with over £520m in private investment cash being injected in The Hundred since last year.
Three of the eight teams have changed their name as part of a rebrand that aligns them with their new Indian Premier League-based owners: Manchester Super Giants (formerly Originals, Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers) and MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles).
Every match from The Hundred - the men's and women's competitions - will be live on Your Site in 2026, including the eliminators on Friday August 14 and finals on Sunday August 16, with every day seeing a women's game precede a men's fixture at the same venue.
Why did you want to be part of Birmingham Phoenix?
Bellingham: "When I got the opportunity to get involved, I didn't really think twice about it and I'm so happy to be on board.
"I love Birmingham. I'm very grateful for what they've done for me. The whole city of Birmingham really, well at least one half!
"It's the West Midlands as a whole, I suppose. That's where I played a lot of my football and cricket, but I'd say particularly Birmingham just because of the club that I played for.
"For me, Birmingham City are the best team I could have ever come through at and the best team I could have supported. I got the best upbringing into football, into life there.
"I feel like I owe the city something. And this feels like a good way, in a different but still sporting avenue.
"I love cricket. Playing when I was younger, and now as I've got older and understand the game a bit more, watching it on TV.
"Cricket is probably my favourite thing to watch outside football. My favourite sport to watch, for sure.
"I enjoy the Test matches the most, when I can watch it throughout the whole day, or when training finishes and I can get back to watch it in the afternoon."
Growing up, was cricket as competitive as football between you and your brother Jobe?
Bellingham: "We're a competitive pair of lads. Pretty much everything we did ended in scraps and tears, whether it was Monopoly, or football and cricket.
"Cricket was no different, even though Jobe probably didn't enjoy it as much as I did, but I still had a great time playing it with him."
What values do you think cricket instills in young players?
Bellingham: "I think there's a class to it, definitely. Maybe that's not always on display in football.
"I think there is a certain class and elegance to so many of the things: the toss, for example, and how the captains come out in their blazers and their caps on.
"The way that maybe the fans behave towards the players and the players are with the fans. It does seem like even in some of the bigger rivalries there's a line of respect between some of the teams. Obviously sometimes it can get slightly crossed or whatever, like in any sport, because obviously the players care so much.
"But, generally speaking, it's a very classy sport. I think some of the players that you watch and the way they move to bowl and bat, it's so elegant sometimes."
Do you think football could learn from cricket?
Bellingham: "Probably. I think they're a lot more funny. There's more humour in it.
"I've heard a lot of the stump mic and I've seen so many documentaries about some of the characters that have played over the years.
"I do think there's probably a little bit more light-heartedness to the game, which means that people can relate to the players a little bit more. They're probably less scrutinised and appreciated more for how good they are and how good they are as people as well."
How important is it for you to remember your roots and stay true to them?
Bellingham: "Massively important. I carry it with me in everything I do.
"I think it's not just the way you talk or the accent you have, it's the values that you take from Birmingham.
"In my case, I always felt like Birmingham was a place where everyone wanted to see everyone do well. It was a place where I was lucky enough to kind of grow up and people would push you to want to be better than you were - or to be the best.
"It wasn't like other areas that I've been to where it's very cutthroat and a bit ruthless. I find that everyone cares for one another really well.
"That's one of the main values that I try and take with me when I've been to Germany, now in Spain, and all over the world to play.
"I want to kind of show people, show the world that where I come from is an amazing place with amazing values.
"Sometimes I get it wrong, and that's part of being a Brummie as well I suppose, that you don't ever take things too seriously, I think.
"But yeah, for me, it's a huge honour to represent Birmingham on the world stage. And it's something that I don't take lightly. I want to keep doing it in the right way, so that my people back home are proud of me."
All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Your Site
Friday July 24: Birmingham Phoenix vs Trent Rockets, Edgbaston (women's game 3pm, men's 6.30pm)
Sunday July 26: Manchester Super Giants vs Birmingham Phoenix, Emirates Old Trafford (women's game 11am, men's 2.30pm)
Thursday July 30: Southern Brave vs Birmingham Phoenix, Utilita Bowl (women's game 3pm, men's 6.30pm)
Saturday August 1: Birmingham Phoenix vs Welsh Fire, Edgbaston (women's game 11am, men's 2.30pm)
Wednesday August 5: Trent Rockets vs Birmingham Phoenix, Trent Bridge (women's game 3pm, men's 6.30pm)
Friday August 7: Birmingham Phoenix v Sunrisers Leeds, Edgbaston (women's game 3pm, men's 6.30pm)
Sunday August 9: London Spirit vs Birmingham Phoenix, Lord's (women's game 2.30pm, men's 6pm)
Wednesday August 12: Birmingham Phoenix vs MI London, Edgbaston (women's game 3pm, men's 6.30pm)
Watch the 2026 edition of The Hundred, live on Your Site from July 21-August 16.
