The 2.11-meter-tall star has become a shareholder of Chelsea

NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has confirmed that he has become part of the ownership group of Chelsea Women.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks star, will collaborate with Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian to acquire shares of the women's team Chelsea. Last year, Ohanian purchased 8–10% of Chelsea Women’s shares, reportedly worth around £20 million. The exact amount and share percentage held by Antetokounmpo have not yet been disclosed.

In a social media post, Antetokounmpo described Chelsea as a “club rich in tradition, built on passion, excellence, and a winning culture.”

“Chelsea’s history speaks for itself, and I’m excited to contribute to the future by supporting the growth and expanding influence of women’s sports,”he wrote. “This is a story about ambition, legacy, and elevating this sport to new heights. Up the Chels!”.

Currently, Chelsea Women rank third in the WSL standings, trailing the top team Manchester City by 12 points. This club is the most successful in the league’s history, having won six consecutive titles. Recently, Chelsea also announced that head coach Sonia Bompastor has extended her contract with the club until 2030.

Antetokounmpo is the latest name in the wave of NBA superstars investing in football. Previously, LeBron James has been a minority shareholder of Liverpool since 2011 and also invested separately in AC Milan, while Kevin Durant became a minority owner of Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a top NBA star over the past decade; standing 2.11 meters tall, he plays as a power forward. According to Spotrac statistics, Antetokounmpo has earned approximately £243.8 million from NBA salaries throughout his career, excluding external endorsement deals.

With the huge earnings from his NBA career, Antetokounmpo is expanding into business ventures, with football being his latest target. Born and raised in Greece, he once shared that if he hadn’t become an NBA player, he might have pursued a career in football.