Former NFL star Tom Brady has become a minority owner of Sky Bet Championship club Birmingham, who will be competing against the likes of Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City, Huddersfield, Middlesbrough and Rotherham in the upcoming season.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion, recognised as one of the sporting greats, has partnered with the club’s holding company Knighthead Capital Management LLC and becomes chairman of a new advisory board.

The deal will see something off an American sporting derby in the Championship this season, after Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas invested in Leeds United earlier this year.

Tom Brady has become a minority owner of Birmingham City.

The club say 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”.

He said on the club’s official website: “Birmingham is an iconic club with so much history and passion and to be part of the Blues is a real honour for me. BCFC is built on teamwork and determination and I’m excited to work alongside the board, management and players to make our second-city club second to none.

“I’ve been part of some amazing teams in my day, and I’m looking forward to applying my perspective to create that same success here in Birmingham.”

Brady has partnered up with Knighthead Capital on several other ventures and new Blues chairman Tom Wagner is looking forward to Brady’s “direct impact”.

He said: “Tom Brady joining the Birmingham team is a statement of intent. We are setting the bar at world class. Tom is both investing and committing his time and extensive expertise. As chair of the advisory board Tom will have a direct impact on the club. The men’s, women’s, and academy teams are going to benefit from the knowledge.

“The goal that Tom has committed to own is to make Birmingham a respected leader in nutrition, health, wellness, and recovery across the world of football. A commitment to Blues fans was made on Monday May 8 2023, to add experts from the world of sport and football to the team, putting in place the building blocks for future success.

"With Garry Cook as CEO, Hope Powell as women’s technical director and now Tom Brady we are off to a fast start. Success does not come overnight. It takes time. But when you have great leaders in place everything becomes possible.”

Brady becomes the latest in an ever-growing number of American stars to invest in British clubs. NFL legend JJ Watt invested in Bunrley at the latter end of last season, while Hollywood actor Michael B Jordan was part of a consortium that put money into Bournemouth. And Wrexham have been making a splash lower down the divisions after being taken over by TV and film stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Tom Brady: NFL superstar becomes minority owner of Championship rivals of Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City, Huddersfield, Middlesbrough and Rotherham