Gareth Bale has launched a new investment fund and, among other acquisitions, wants to buy a team in the sport in which he became a legend.
Bale’s soccer career spanned spells at Southampton, Tottenham, Real Madrid and Los Angeles FC, as well as the Wales national team, where he is all-time leading scorer.
A five-time Champions League winner, Bale retired at the relatively young age of 33. Since then, the former attacker has branched out into business.
In July 2025, reports emerged that Bale was leading a consortium with a view to buying Cardiff City, his home-town club who, after promotion from League One last season, will compete in the Championship next term.
Ultimately, that deal did not materialise. But it was emblematic of a wider trend which has seen dozens of retired or active footballers – including fellow Real Madrid alumni Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Kylian Mbappe, David Beckham – invest in clubs in recent years.
Now, Bale appears to be renewing his interest in owning a stake in a soccer club.
Alongside the US private equity firm Juggernaut Capital, Bale has launched a sports fund with the aim of making investments in men’s and women’s sports.
In an interview with respected industry publication Front Office Sports, he and his business partner, private equity veteran John Shulman, revealed that
“It’s all about the right opportunity,” said Bale, “not necessarily targeting one club. It didn’t come to fruition last time. Now, it’s about being patient, finding the right club that we can grow with as well. It doesn’t mean Cardiff is off the table, but we have now time and a wider range of clubs to look at.”
So what clubs interest Bale? And what model would he adopt as a prospective club owner?
Championship side Wrexham, now the foremost club in Bale’s home country thanks to the investment and star power of Ryan Reynolds, Rob Mac and their co-investors, are a particularly interesting example of a club run in the right way, says Bale.
“What they have done is absolutely incredible. I have spoken about it a number of times. Taking them from where they were to where they are now, investing the right way, bringing the community and the club together, reviving them. It’s amazing what they have done.
“To get three promotions in a row and, on the last day, to miss out on a play-off to get to the Premier League is extraordinary and very unlucky at the same time. It would have been cool to keep the fairy tale going.
“There are many ways to run a football club. You do need that little bit of luck as well. You can have the right players, the right investment, but it’s out of your hands in a way. You need the ball to bounce your way a few times, which unfortunately didn’t happen [at Wrexham] this year.
“But what they are doing is extraordinary and a model to be looked at seriously. Hopefully, they can keep pushing that club forward and do Wales proud.”
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