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Top actor seeks share in Norwich franchise

American celebrities cannot get enough of English soccer clubs including those outside the top flight.

Award-winning actor Hugh Jackman is in talks to purchase a stake in English second-tier club Norwich City.  While there have been no official moves to arrange any investment so far, the 57-year-old has held discussions with the Championship club’s ownership over a potential deal, according to sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Jackman grew up in Australia but is a fan of Norwich, who have spent the majority of the last half-decade in the English top and second divisions, and was asked about potentially becoming the latest celebrity to invest in English football and the possibility of being pitted against his Deadpool & Wolverine co-star, Ryan Reynolds, who co-owns fellow Championship side Wrexham.

Jackman is best known for playing the superhero Wolverine in Marvel’s X-Men series, having also appeared in The Greatest Showman and the musical Les Misérables.

Norwich finished ninth in the Championship last season and are playing their fifth consecutive campaign in the league. They most recently played in the Premier League in the 2021-22 season. Norwich are majority owned by American businessman Mark Attanasio, who also controls Major League Baseball club the Milwaukee Brewers.

If Jackman does buy a stake in Norwich, he would follow in the footsteps of several actors and celebrities who have become co-owners of clubs in the UK, the majority of which have been from North America. Actor Rob Mac has co-owned Wrexham with Reynolds since 2021, when they were in the fifth tier National League, while Hollywood star Michael B. Jordan owns a minority stake in Premier League club Bournemouth.

Actors Russell Crowe and Will Ferrell have bought stakes in Leeds United, alongside former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook and golfer Jordan Spieth.   Rapper Snoop Dogg became a co-owner of Welsh team Swansea City last year, while seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady is a minority investor at Birmingham City.


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