Hollywood star Will Ferrell has bought a ‘large stake’ in Championship club Leeds United after ‘falling in love with the English game’.
The Elf and Anchorman star was seen on various sports networks on a whistle-stop tour of English football stadiums last season.
Ferrell, 56, is already a co-owner of MLS side Los Angeles FC and has now purchased a ‘large stake’ in Leeds, according to The Sun.
Leeds, who are currently pushing for promotion to the Premier League, are owned by 49ers Enterprises and American billionaire Denise DeBartolo York, who is also in charge of American football team San Francisco 49ers.
‘It’s true – Will Ferrell owns a share of Leeds,’ a source told The Sun. ‘The 49ers will be announcing his involvement in the coming days and he’s looking forward to sprinkling a little stardust on the club.
‘He loves soccer and has been particularly impressed by the passion of the English game.
‘And his aim now is to see Leeds back where they belong – in the Premier League. As far as Will and the 49ers are concerned, this is a serious investment opportunity.’
Ferrell struck up a surprise friendship with Manchester City and England star Jack Grealish when he attended City’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa last season.
Grealish, who came through at Midlands club Villa, said: ‘Did we just become best friends? What a man.’
Ferrell later joked: ‘Great to meet my new British friend Jack Grealish at the Etihad today. He told me to buy Birmingham City and to get them relegated to League Two.’
Ferrell has also attended multiple Wrexham games to support fellow Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who co-own the newly-promoted League One side.
Leeds United were a major force in the Premier League in the late-1990s before dropping two divisions into League One for three seasons between 2007 and 2010.
The Elland Road club made a long-awaited return to the English top-flight in 2020 and spent three seasons in the Premier League before being relegated back down to the Championship last season.
Leeds amassed an impressive 90 points from 46 games this term but that was only enough to finish third in the Championship, six and seven points behind Ipswich Town and Leicester City respectively.
Daniel Farke’s side face Norwich City in the play-offs, before a potential Wembley meeting with Southampton or West Brom for a place in the Premier League.
Looking ahead to the play-offs, Farke said: ‘In general you have to say this season is over and this means you have to congratulate Leicester and Ipswich, they fully deserve to be promoted, the two best sides. We are the third best team on 90 points. And that’s it.
‘We draw a line under this season and go into a new competition. In the last weeks we had some problems, key players not available. I hope we can use the upcoming days to make them available for what I hope is three finals.
‘We have a really young side, some of my young players have lost their momentum, their confidence. It’s important to prepare, give them good moments on the training pitch, to find their rhythm back.’
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