The next Wrexham! American investors asking 'How do we get to be Kim Kardashian or The Rock's English football team?' after seeing Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney & Tom Brady join EFL ranks

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have enjoyed quite the adventure in North Wales, with an award-winning documentary allowing them to open up a window to the world and build a global fan base. They have stepped out of a Hollywood comfort zone and found success in a surprising sporting venture.

NFL legend Tom Brady is now an investor at Birmingham City, while Will Ferrell has linked up with Leeds United and Michael B Jordan boasts ties to Bournemouth. JJ Watt is another American football great with links to the EFL, alongside his former USWNT star wife Kealia at Burnley, while there has been talk of rapper A$AP Rocky – the partner of music icon Rihanna – forming part of a takeover bid at Tranmere Rovers.

More funding from North America is expected to flood into the English game, with investors able to take moderate financial risks in pursuit of potentially lucrative gain – while building on the relationships that they already have in place with famous celebrities.

Adam Sommerfeld of Certus Capital, a firm that brokers the sales of English sports teams, has told Front Office Sports of the growing EFL trend: “Investors can afford to have a go without it being significant for them and their capital. Potential investors will be trying to figure out ‘How do we get to be Kim Kardashian or The Rock’s English football team?’”

He went on to share warnings that any American groups must heed, with there no guarantees of success: “There are lots of investors who fail to understand the passion involved in these clubs. If fans are unhappy, they will turn up at your front door to remonstrate. I know of a couple of investors who have had fans protest at their hotels when they are over from the U.S.”

Reynolds and McElhenney have shown what can be achieved and there remains plenty of speculation to suggest that they will be joined in the English Football League ranks by a number of other familiar faces in the months and years to come.