Basketball star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has joined the ownership group of Spanish football club Atlético Madrid, acquiring a stake in the side, as reported by rnz.de. The 28-year-old guard, who won back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player awards and captured an NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025, becomes the latest high-profile American professional basketball player to invest in European soccer.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Joins Atlético Madrid Ownership Group
The Canadian star confirmed his new role through a statement provided during the announcement. “I’m thrilled to officially become part of the ownership group of Atlético Madrid,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “This club has been at the summit of European football for many years, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help shape its future.”
Atlético Madrid did not disclose the precise financial terms or the exact percentage of the stake acquired by the NBA star, though media reports indicate he holds a small share in the club. The Spanish powerhouse welcomed the investment by highlighting a shared philosophy between the club and its newest stakeholder.
“The partnership is built on shared values: ambition, excellence, and the belief that every success must be earned through hard work,” Atlético Madrid stated in an official release.
NBA Stars Invest in European and North American Soccer Clubs
Gilgeous-Alexander’s entry into football administration follows a well-established precedent set by other elite NBA champions acquiring stakes in soccer franchises. LeBron James set the trend in 2011 when he purchased a minority share in Premier League club Liverpool.
Investment by basketball luminaries into soccer has accelerated significantly in recent seasons across both men’s and women’s competitions. Kevin Durant acquired a stake in French giants Paris Saint-Germain in July 2025 following the club’s Champions League victory. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo expanded his portfolio into European women’s football by joining the ownership group of Chelsea’s women’s team in February 2026, adding to his existing shares in Major League Soccer side Nashville SC, which he purchased in 2023.
The partnership integrates Gilgeous-Alexander into an established institutional framework at Atlético Madrid as the club maintains its competitive standing at the top tier of Spanish and continental football.
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