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NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has announced he has joined the ownership group of Chelsea Women.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Antetokounmpo is partnering with Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, who last year paid around £20million ($27.2m) to purchase a stake of approximately 10 per cent in the reigning Women’s Super League (WSL) champions.
“I’m proud and honored to partner with my friend @alexisohanian, joining the ownership group of @ChelseaFCW, a historic club built on passion, excellence, and a winning culture,” Antetokounmpo, 31, said in a post of him wearing a Chelsea shirt on X.
“Chelsea’s history speaks for itself, and I’m excited to contribute to the future by supporting continued growth and impact in women’s sport. This is about ambition, legacy, and pushing the game to new heights. Up the Chels!”
Welcome home my friend! https://t.co/ylGZrWXD8d pic.twitter.com/uw4Bj0uqje
— Alexis Ohanian 🗽 (@alexisohanian) February 8, 2026
Responding to the post, Ohanian attached a picture of a younger Antetokounmpo visiting the Stamford Bridge home dressing room several years ago and said: “Welcome home my friend!”
The west London club confirmed Antetokounmpo’s addition to the Chelsea Women ownership group, but declined to offer details on the size of the stake or what valuation it places upon the team.
Antetokounmpo is the latest in a growing number of NBA superstars to venture into soccer club ownership. LeBron James is a minority owner of Liverpool since 2011 while also being separately invested in AC Milan, and Kevin Durant became a minority shareholder in Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.
Chelsea Women are third in the WSL table, trailing leaders Manchester City by 12 points. They are the most successful club in the competition’s history and have lifted the trophy in each of the last six years.
On Friday the club announced that head coach Sonia Bompastor has extended her contract with the club until 2030.
Feb 8, 2026
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