Here we go! Proud to be part of the Blues family 💙💙💙 @BCFC pic.twitter.com/lSEbzzpcBk

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) August 3, 2023

Former Bucs QB Tom Brady hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down since he retired in February. From expanding his apparel business, BRADY, to becoming a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, it feels like his plate would’ve been full by now.

But on Thursday, Brady’s 46th birthday, he announced on social media he’d take his leadership skills overseas and become a minority owner of Birmingham City, a second-division English soccer club.

“I’m officially coming on board at Birmingham City Football Club,” Brady said.

Both American and English football fans on social media were surprised to hear the news. Why would a seven-time Super Bowl champion become an owner of an English football team?

Brady is an investor in Knighthead Capital Management, an investment firm co-founded by his friend, Tom Wagner. So last month, when Shelby Companies, a subsidiary of KCM, purchased Birmingham City, Brady soon followed.

This isn’t the first time he and Wagner have paired up as owners. The two purchased a Major League Pickleball expansion team in 2022.

As the minority owner of Birmingham City, Brady will “apply his extensive leadership experience and expertise across several components of the club, including working alongside the sports science department to advise on health, nutrition, wellness, and recovery systems and programs.”

Birmingham City has struggled in recent years because of financial mismanagement by its previous owner, Carson Yeung. Yeung was in charge of the club when it was in the Premier League, but he was convicted of money laundering, among other financial charges.

While Brady might not have vast English football knowledge, he’ll be able to bring his leadership and determination to the club’s front office.

“I know I like being the underdog,” he said in his announcement video. “The road’s been long for Birmingham, but these fans have never stopped believing.”

Brady’s portfolio has expanded well beyond football since his retirement. In addition to his investments in pickleball and soccer, he became a minority owner of the Las Vegas Aces in March and a speedboat racing team in July.

The 46-year-old purchased the speedboat team in the new E1 World Championship alongside tennis star Rafael Nadal and Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez.

Brady is now one of two notable NFL retirees to invest in English soccer. Former Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is a minority investor in Burnley Football Club.