Elf film star Will Ferrell has purchased a “massive” stake in Leeds United FC after falling in love with English soccer.
The movie legend pumped a “massive” stake into US house owners 49ers Enterprises because the Championship aspect put together for the play-offs — and a possible return to the Premier League.
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Sources near Anchorman star Ferrell say he’s now a proud Leeds supporter after falling in love with English soccer and he can not wait to cheer them on at Elland Street.
An insider advised The Solar on Sunday: “It’s true – Will Ferrell owns a share of Leeds.
“The 49ers might be saying his involvement within the coming days and he’s wanting ahead to sprinkling a bit of stardust on the membership.
“He loves soccer and has been notably impressed by the fervour of the English recreation.
“And his intention now could be to see Leeds again the place they belong — within the Premier League. So far as Will and the 49ers are involved, this can be a severe funding alternative.”
Ferrell – who has an estimated internet value of £127 million ($A240m) and is co-owner of Los Angeles FC – loved a whistlestop tour of English matches final season.
He shaped an unlikely friendship with England star Jack Grealish throughout a shock TV look on the Etihad final February, the place he watched Manchester Metropolis’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa.
He additionally noticed League Two membership Wrexham – co-owned by fellow Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds – beat Wealdstone 3-1 on the identical journey, having fun with a pint within the pub earlier than the sport.
He’s anticipated to be unveiled inside days as a serious investor at Elland Street, one in every of soccer’s most well-known grounds.
“Though they aren’t at present within the Premier League everybody in soccer recognises Leeds is an enormous membership with a large fanbase,” a supply stated.
“Many seek advice from them as a ‘sleeping large’ which Will could be very conscious of.
“He is aware of his soccer and he’s decided to assist carry again the glory days to Leeds.
“The membership is an enormous title throughout Europe, not simply in England. It has huge pedigree and historical past.
“There’s clearly a wealthy marketplace for him to faucet into – each financially and sporting sensible.”
Daniel Farke’s group as we speak missed out on computerized promotion which might have seen them go straight again to the Prem after final season’s relegation.
However Leeds will now compete within the multimillion pound play-offs – and new investor Ferrell might watch his group for the primary time in a possible Wembley last on Could 26.
He’s one in every of a gaggle of traders within the San Francisco-based 49ers – the £4 billion ($A7.6bn) gridiron large which purchased Leeds final June.
And the film star and producer – famed for his roles as Buddy the Elf and Anchorman newscaster Ron Burgundy – was a shock visitor on Sky Sports activities on his Etihad journey final 12 months.
Sporting an LAFC hat, he grabbed pundit Gary Neville’s microphone, and joked: “We’ve heard sufficient from Gary – we’re bored stiff by Gary.”
He revealed he had performed alongside fellow pundit Roy Keane in a Soccer Help match and joked he was scouting. Ferrell stated: “I’m on a recruiting journey for LAFC – I’m seeing if Man Metropolis measure up.
“I don’t actually have a aspect over right here – I simply get pleasure from following all of the storylines – it’s clearly an excellent league.”
Metropolis star Grealish, a boyhood fan of Aston Villa, met up with the funnyman and posted selfies, asking: “Did we simply turn out to be finest buddies??? What a person.”
Ferrell later joked on his official website: “Nice to fulfill my new British pal Jack Grealish on the Etihad as we speak.
“He advised me to purchase Birmingham Metropolis and to get them relegated to League 2.”
Extremely, on a dramatic day on the backside of the Championship as we speak, that did truly occur.
Ferrell was additionally at Wembley in Could 2022 together with Reynolds and former England skipper David Beckham, watching Wrexham lose to Bromley within the FA Trophy Closing.
Reynolds and fellow Hollywood star Rob McElhenney produced hit TV documentary Welcome to Wrexham charting their sensational arrival in 2020 adopted by back-to-back promotions.
However insiders near the Leeds deal stated their new investor had no plans to movie his personal footy drama.
A supply advised The Solar on Sunday: “So far as Will and the 49ers are involved, this can be a severe funding alternative.
“He’s a Leeds fan now and might be supporting the group however received’t be bringing a movie crew with him – that’s not in his plans in any respect.”
Requested about Ferrell’s Leeds hyperlink, a membership spokesman stated as we speak: “We’d by no means touch upon the standing of particular person traders.
“It could be as much as them to touch upon any stake they’ve within the membership.”
Billionaire couple Marie Denise Bartelo York, 73, and husband John, 75, run the San Francisco 49ers.
Its acquisition of Leeds was its first soccer funding and John York now sits on the board of administrators.
A 49ers spokeswoman declined to remark.
This story first appeared in The Solar and was republished with permission.
