Apollo Sports Capital (ASC), the sports-based venture of US investment firm Apollo Global Management (AGM), has made another investment into soccer after acquiring a minority stake in celebrity-owned Welsh club Wrexham FC.
The pair have not released details on how much ASC has invested in Wrexham, nor the size of the stake acquired. However, it has been widely reported that it is less than a 10% stake.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The agreement will see Wrexham, which plays in England’s second-tier Championship, receive a cash injection from ASC, while Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac remain controlling owners of the club.
The cash will be used on the current redevelopment of the club’s home ground, Stok Cae Ras, as well as its ambitions to reach the top-tier Premier League.
In a joint statement, Reynolds and Mac said: “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.”
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataASC’s involvement adds to the club’s ownership group. After acquiring Wrexham in 2021, Reynolds and Mac sold a 15% stake in the club to the Allyn Family in October 2024.
The deal marks ASC's second investment in soccer since its launch in September as part of AGM’s plans to invest $5 billion in the sporting sector.
At the time, AGM said the ASC arm, led by chief executive Al Tylis, would “provide capital solutions across the global sports and live events ecosystem,” spanning franchises, leagues, venues, media, and events.
Its first major move was to secure a majority shareholding in Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, with the deal set to be formalized next year.
That deal saw ASC acquire a 55% stake of the LaLiga club, with the agreement reportedly valuing Atletico at around €2.2 billion.
The investment also builds on Reynolds and Mac’s relationship with Tylis, who owns a stake in Mexican soccer club Necaxa alongside the celebrity duo.
Apollo partner and co-portfolio manager of ASC Lee Solomon said, “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.
"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.”
ASC, meanwhile, is building on Apollo’s established presence in sports, with the firm claiming its managed funds have deployed approximately $17 billion to date in the broader space, including investments in sports and entertainment companies, media rights, and stadium and league financings.
Founded in 1990, Apollo's sports work includes providing financing for some of European soccer’s biggest teams, as well as for major US leagues like American football's NFL, basketball’s NBA, and ice hockey’s NHL.
