Tom Brady exits Birmingham City stake as club tops English Championship

Brady leaves the ownership group

Tom Brady has given up his minority stake in Birmingham City, the English second-tier club announced on Monday, 9 November. The club gave no reason for the departure and did not say what would happen to the share. Brady, 49, joined the ownership group in August 2023 through a partnership with Knighthead Capital Management, whose group is headed by Tom Wagner, his friend and business partner. The Athletic had previously reported that Brady held a 3.3 per cent stake with no voting rights and had no day-to-day involvement at the club. He had also chaired an advisory board that worked with the club's directors and leadership team.

What the club said

Birmingham thanked Brady in a short statement issued on Monday for his backing over the past three years.

“Birmingham City Football Club expresses its sincere gratitude to Tom Brady for his involvement with and unwavering support for the club over the last three years.”

The club also said that Brady had offered help to its sports science department on health, nutrition and recovery programmes, and that players had used his body coach, Alex Guerrero. Reflecting on his time at the club, the statement added the following.

“It was truly amazing to have someone with Tom's experience and passion associated with the club.”

The statement said the club intends to keep building on that base, from its training ground to the city itself.

Birmingham's season and ambitions

Birmingham moved top of the Championship on Saturday, 7 November, after beating Swansea 2-1 at St Andrew's. According to the Guardian, the club sits top on goal difference with 29 points after 15 matches. The club aims to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2011, and Wagner has indicated a desire to reach the top flight. Plans are in place for a new 62,000-capacity stadium in the city. Brady's exit was therefore announced while the club was top of the table.

Brady's wider profile

Brady won seven Super Bowls, with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He holds a minority stake in the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders, and the Guardian also lists a stake in the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces. He works as a television commentator for Fox Sports. Brady's involvement with Birmingham was his most prominent move into English football, and the club has not said whether he will keep any other role.

Timeline of the investment

The key dates in the investment and the club's recent form are set out in the timeline below.

Brady's stake ended three years after he joined the group, and the club's statement came two days after its Championship win.