Apollo Acquires Stake in Welsh Soccer Club Wrexham

Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will sell a minority stake in the team—popularized by a television show—to the alts manager’s sports platform.

Apollo Sports Capital, the sports investing platform of Apollo Global Management Inc., will purchase a minority interest in Welsh soccer club Wrexham Association Football Club for an undisclosed sum, the firm announced Monday.

According to an Apollo statement, the investment will align with Wrexham’s long-term growth strategy and aspirations to play in the English Premier League. The club’s majority stakeholders, actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, took over the club in 2021 and currently hold 85% of its shares; they will continue to oversee the club as controlling owners.

In conjunction with acquiring the team, McElhenney and Reynolds launched a television series, “Welcome to Wrexham,” which has brought the club widespread publicity and significant sponsorship money. Based on its on-field results, the club has reached the English Football League Championship, the second tier of English football leagues—in which the club competes, despite being based in Wales—from the fifth tier, by earning successive one-level promotions in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The investment will also support the redevelopment of the team’s stadium and the Wrexham Gateway Project: a transportation and redevelopment project located near Wrexham’s stadium in North Wales.

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“From day one, we wanted to build a sustainable future for Wrexham Association Football Club. And to do it with a little heart and humor,” McElhenney and Reynolds said in a joint statement. “The dream has always been to take this club to the Premier League while staying true to the town. Growth like that takes world-class partners who share our vision and ambition, and Apollo absolutely does.”

Apollo formally launched its sports capital business in September, with the goal of providing credit and hybrid financing for sports teams and the broader sports and media ecosystem. In November, the firm announced it would take a majority stake in Spanish soccer club Atlético Madrid.

“Wrexham is on an incredible journey, and we are thrilled to be a part of it and to support the Club, the Wrexham community and Rob and Ryan,” said Lee Solomon, partner in and co-portfolio manager of Apollo Sports Capital, in a statement. “This is a multi-faceted investment where Apollo Sports Capital can provide long-term, patient capital to help Wrexham reach its goals and to contribute to the ongoing revitalization of the facilities and local economy.”