Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney ‘buy stake in new club as they team up with Mesut Ozil and Kate Upton’
RYAN REYNOLDS and Rob McElhenney have joined the celebrity shareholders of a Mexican football club, according to reports.
The popular Hollywood pair are already owners of Wrexham, buying the Welsh side in February 2021.
Their brilliant rise has seen the Red Dragons enjoy back-to-back promotions from the National League to League One.
But while Phil Parkinson prepares for life in the third tier next season, his bosses are expanding their football empire.
Variety report the acting duo purchased a minority stake in Liga MX outfit Necaxa.
The deal was said to be in the works “for months and finalised recently,” ESPN added.
Reynolds and McElhenney join an elite list of blockbuster names who have also pumped money into Necaxa.
That includes former Arsenal and Germany World Cup winner Mesut Ozil.
He is joined by plenty of fellow sports stars – iconic NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr, baseball star Justin Verlander, alpine skier Bode Miller and NBA trio Victor Oladipo, Richard Hamilton and Shawn Marion.
And glamorous actresses and models Kate Upton and Eva Longoria also form part of the epic consortium.
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Longoria was even in attendance at Necaxa’s last game – Sunday’s 5-2 defeat at home to Monterrey.
Formed in 1923, Los Rayos play their football at the 23,000-seater Estadio Victoria and are currently ninth in the Liga MX table.
Who are the owners of Club Necaxa?
RYAN REYNOLDS (Net worth: £280m)
Deadpool actor co-owns Wrexham with pal Rob McElhenney and is married to actress Blake Lively
ROB McELHENNEY (£50m)
Made his name as star of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, where he met wife Kaitlin Olson – teamed up with Reynolds for Wrexham revival
MESUT OZIL (£96m)
Ex-Arsenal and Real Madrid star won World Cup with Germany in 2014, retired in 2023 to focus on family and business ventures including M10 streetwear, esports team, coffee shops and sports clinic
KATE UPTON (£24m)
Actress and model starred in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2011, and was cover model for the 2012, 2013 and 2017 issues – married to baseball star Justin Verlander
EVA LONGORIA (£64m)
Mexican-American Texan boasts impressive CV of films and TV shows, activist Longoria also founded own charity to support adults with developmental disabilities
ODELL BECKHAM JR (£32m)
Won 2021 Superbowl with LA Rams, friends with David Beckham, LeBron James, Beyonce and Drake – has host of big sponsors and was linked with romance with Kim Kardashian
JUSTIN VERLANDER (£120m)
Iconic pitcher for Detroit Tigers, New York Mets and now Houston Astros – married Upton in 2017, two days after winning World Series
VICTOR OLADIPO (£40m)
Maryland basketball star twice named NBA all-star during spell with Indiana Pacers – appeared in The Masked Singer in US
RICHARD HAMILTON (£40m)
Spent 14 years in NBA – including nine with Detroit Pistons where he won NBA in 2004 – now analyst for CBS Sports, married pop star TJ Lottie in 2009
SHAWN MARION (£48m)
Four-time NBA all-star helped Dallas Mavericks to first title in 2011 – also invested in New Zealand Breakers basketball team
BODE MILLER (£9m)
Apline skier won one Olympic and four World Championship gold medals, turned out in baseball for Nashua Pride and even tried a career in tennis – has eight children, six of them with model and beach-volleyball star wife Morgan Beck
AL TYLIS (Unknown)
Real estate investor a veteran in industry and has pumped considerable wealth into DC Pickleball team and G2 Esports – now runs family foundation and sold Manhattan apartment for £30m in 2023 so likely worth far more now
ERNESTO TINAJERO FLORES (Unknown)
Businessman has enjoyed success in banking, telecommunications, wine and owns half of Club Necaxa where he is chairman
They have been crowned Mexican champions three times in their history – all in the 1990s.
The all-star NX Football USA LLC – spearheaded by real estate investor Al Tylis – bought 50 per cent of Necaxa in 2021 after approval from the Mexican Football Federation.
Ernesto Tinajero Flores owns the other half and is the club chairman.
As well as Reynolds and McElhenney joining the Necaxa group, it is also understood the existing conglomerate of the Mexican club have agreed to buy a five per cent stake in Wrexham.
