Shaquille O’Neal, an NBA legend, is reportedly in talks to buy a stake in Premier League club West Ham.
The 52-year-old, who won four NBA championships in his long career, became interested in becoming a shareholder after attending one of the club’s games last season.
Shaquille O’Neal would become the latest former American sports star to invest in the English game, including ex-NFL players Tom Brady, JJ Watt, and basketball legend LeBron James.
According to The Sun, the 7-foot-1 former centre, who now covers the sport as a TNT commentator, enjoys football and has discussed investing ‘serious wealth’ in the Hammers.
They quote a source as saying: “He went to a game at the end of the season and loved it. It’s now a case of whether the financials stack up for him.”
The London club will be very different from the one that finished ninth last season, after winning the Europa Conference League the previous year.
West Ham decided not to extend David Moyes’ contract and instead recruited Julen Lopetegui, a former Real Madrid and Wolves manager, as their new manager in May.
O’Neal, a basketball Hall of Famer, played 41,918 minutes in 19 seasons in the NBA. He played for six teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, where he won championships, as well as the
In addition to former American athletes, British football has seen a number of celebrities from over the pond invest in teams at all levels of the sport.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
