Real Madrid and England international Jude Bellingham feels he “owes” Birmingham City after being announced as The Hundred’s new investor in Birmingham Phoenix ahead of the 2026 season.
The former Birmingham City midfielder will develop a keen interest in community engagement and corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects, increasing participation in cricket and bringing people from different backgrounds together through the power of sport.
Mr Bellingham, who grew up in Stourbridge, will take a 1.2% stake, with Warwickshire County Cricket Club retaining majority control at 50.4% and Birmingham City owners Knighthead Capital Management (with NFL legend Tom Brady as a minority investor) holding 48.4%.
Jude Bellingham made his debut for his boyhood club Birmingham City at the age of 16, before moving to Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.
“I feel like I owe something to the city, and I think this is a good way to go about it,” Bellingham said when announcing his involvement with Phoenix.
In an interview with Warwickshire CCC, Bellingham spoke of his love for cricket, saying that when he was young he used to play “scraps” of cricket with his brother Jobe, but that cricket is now “my favorite thing to watch outside of football”.
He added: “For me, I’ve always felt that Birmingham was a place where everyone wanted to see everyone doing their best. Birmingham was a place where I was lucky enough to grow up and it was a place where people really wanted to be better than you, or be the best.”
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“It wasn’t a very cruel and slightly cold place unlike other areas I’ve been to. I could see that everyone really cared about each other.
“This is one of the main values that I keep in mind when I go to Germany and now to Spain and when I play around the world. I want to show people, the world, that where I come from is a great place with great values.”
Bellingham’s investment is part of a wider shake-up of the 100-ball tournament ahead of the 2026 season, with more than £520m of private investment cash injected into The Hundred since last year.
Three of the eight teams have changed their names as part of a rebrand to coincide with their new Indian Premier League-based owners: Manchester Super Giants (formerly Originals), Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers) and MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles).
All The Hundred men’s and women’s matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in 2026, including the Eliminator on Friday 14 August and the final on Sunday 16 August, with the women’s matches taking place at the same venue each day before the men’s matches.
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Bellingham Q&A
Why did you want to be part of Birmingham Phoenix?
Bellingham: “When I got the opportunity to participate, I didn’t really think about it, I was just so happy to be able to participate.
“I love Birmingham and I’m so grateful for what it has done for me. The whole city of Birmingham, at least half of it!”
“I think the whole of the West Midlands, I played a lot of football and cricket there, but I think Birmingham in particular because of the clubs I played for.
“For me, Birmingham City is the best team I’ve ever been with and the best team I’ve ever supported. I got the best education there in football and in life.
“I feel like I owe this city something, and I feel like this is a good way to do it in a different but still sports city.”
“I love cricket. I used to play cricket when I was younger and now that I’m older and understand the game a little bit more, I watch cricket on TV.
“Aside from soccer, cricket is probably my favorite sport to watch.
“What I enjoy most about Test matches is when I can watch them all day long, or when I can come back and watch them in the afternoon after training.”
Between you and your brother Jobe, was cricket as competitive as football when you were growing up?
Bellingham: “We’re a competitive duo. Most of what we’ve done, whether it’s Monopoly, football or cricket, has ended in vain and brought us to tears.
“Cricket was no different. Even if Jobe didn’t enjoy it as much as I did, I still had a great time playing with him.”
Jude Bellingham and his brother Jobe (left) used to ‘scrap’ when they were kids playing soccer and cricket.
What values do you think cricket instills in young players?
Bellingham: “I definitely think there’s a class to it, and maybe that doesn’t always show up in football.
“I think there’s a certain class and grace in a lot of things, like the way you raise the toss or the way a captain puts on a blazer and a hat.
“Maybe it’s how the fans behave towards the players and the players are with the fans. Even in big rivalries, there seems to be a line of respect between some teams. Of course, as with any sport, there are times when there are subtle differences and things like that, because obviously the players are very attentive.
“But generally speaking, it’s a very classy sport. I think some of the players you watch are very elegant at times, the way they bowl, the way they move towards the bat.”
Do you think football can learn from cricket?
Bellingham: “Maybe. I think it’s funnier. It has more humor.”
“I’ve heard a lot about Stump Mike and watched a lot of documentaries about the character he played over the years.
“I think there’s probably going to be a little bit more of an easy-going vibe to the game, which means people will be able to empathize with the players a little bit more. Players will probably be less scrutinized and there will be more appreciation for how good they are and how good they are as people as well.”
How important is it to you to remember your roots and stay true to them?
Bellingham: “It’s very important. I carry it with me in everything I do.
“I think it’s not just the way you speak or your accent, it’s the values you bring in from Birmingham.
“For me, I’ve always felt that Birmingham is a place where everyone wants to see everyone do well. Birmingham was a place where I was lucky enough to grow up and it was a place where people really wanted to be better than you or be the best.
“It wasn’t a very cruel and slightly cold place unlike other areas I’ve been to. I could see that everyone really cared about each other.
“This is one of the key values that I always keep in mind when I go to Germany and now to Spain and when I play around the world.
“I want to show people, the world, that where I come from is a great place with great values.
“Sometimes you get it wrong, but I think that’s part of being a Brummie and I think it’s better not to take things too seriously.
“But yes, for me it’s a huge honor to represent Birmingham on the world stage and I don’t take it lightly. I want to continue to do it the right way so that the people of my hometown are proud of me.”
Birmingham Phoenix full schedule for 2026
In the UK and Ireland, all matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports
Friday 24th July: Birmingham Phoenix vs. Trent Rockets, Edgbaston (3pm women’s game, 6:30pm men’s game)
Sunday 26 July: Manchester Super Giants v Birmingham Phoenix, Emirates Old Trafford (women’s match 11am, men’s match 2.30pm)
Thursday, July 30: Southern Brave vs. Birmingham Phoenix, Utilita Bowl (3 p.m. women’s game, 6:30 p.m. men’s game)
Saturday 1st August: Birmingham Phoenix v Wales Fire, Edgbaston (11am women’s game, 2:30pm men’s game)
Wednesday 5th August: Trent Rockets vs. Birmingham Phoenix, Trent Bridge (3pm women’s game, 6:30pm men’s game)
Friday 7th August: Birmingham Phoenix vs Sunrisers Leeds, Edgbaston (3pm women’s game, 6:30pm men’s game)
Sunday 9th August: London Spirit vs. Birmingham Phoenix, Lords (women’s game at 2.30pm, men’s game at 6pm)
Wednesday 12th August: Birmingham Phoenix vs MI London, Edgbaston (3pm for women’s game, 6:30pm for men’s game)
Catch the 2026 edition of The Hundred live on Sky Sports from 21 July to 16 August.
