Elf movie star Will Ferrell has bought a “large” stake in Leeds United FC after falling in love with English football.
The film legend pumped a “large” stake into US owners 49ers Enterprises as the Championship side prepare for the play-offs — and a potential return to the Premier League.
Watch selected NRL & AFL games, along with every F1 race live in 4K on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial today >
Sources close to Anchorman star Ferrell say he is now a proud Leeds supporter after falling in love with English football and he cannot wait to cheer them on at Elland Road.
An insider told The Sun on Sunday: “It’s true – Will Ferrell owns a share of Leeds.
“The 49ers will be announcing his involvement in the coming days and he’s looking forward to sprinkling a little stardust on the club.
“He loves soccer and has been particularly impressed by the passion of the English game.
“And his aim now is to see Leeds back where they belong — in the Premier League. As far as Will and the 49ers are concerned, this is a serious investment opportunity.”
Ferrell – who has an estimated net worth of £127 million ($A240m) and is co-owner of Los Angeles FC – enjoyed a whistlestop tour of English matches last season.
He formed an unlikely friendship with England star Jack Grealish during a surprise TV appearance at the Etihad last February, where he watched Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa.
He also saw League Two club Wrexham – co-owned by fellow Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds – beat Wealdstone 3-1 on the same trip, enjoying a pint in the pub before the game.
He is expected to be unveiled within days as a major investor at Elland Road, one of football’s most famous grounds.
“Although they are not currently in the Premier League everyone in football recognises Leeds is a big club with a massive fanbase,” a source said.
“Many refer to them as a ‘sleeping giant’ which Will is very aware of.
“He knows his football and he is determined to help bring back the glory days to Leeds.
“The club is a big name across Europe, not just in England. It has enormous pedigree and history.
“There is clearly a rich market for him to tap into – both financially and sporting wise.”
Daniel Farke’s team today missed out on automatic promotion which would have seen them go straight back to the Prem after last season’s relegation.
But Leeds will now compete in the multimillion pound play-offs – and new investor Ferrell could watch his team for the first time in a potential Wembley final on May 26.
He is one of a group of investors in the San Francisco-based 49ers – the £4 billion ($A7.6bn) gridiron giant which bought Leeds last June.
And the movie star and producer – famed for his roles as Buddy the Elf and Anchorman newscaster Ron Burgundy – was a surprise guest on Sky Sports on his Etihad trip last year.
Sporting an LAFC hat, he grabbed pundit Gary Neville’s microphone, and joked: “We’ve heard enough from Gary – we’re bored stiff by Gary.”
He revealed he had played alongside fellow pundit Roy Keane in a Soccer Aid match and joked he was scouting. Ferrell said: “I’m on a recruiting trip for LAFC – I’m seeing if Man City measure up.
“I don’t really have a side over here – I just enjoy following all the storylines – it’s obviously a very good league.”
City star Grealish, a boyhood fan of Aston Villa, met up with the funnyman and posted selfies, asking: “Did we just become best friends??? What a man.”
Ferrell later joked on his official site: “Great to meet my new British friend Jack Grealish at the Etihad today.
“He told me to buy Birmingham City and to get them relegated to League 2.”
Incredibly, on a dramatic day at the bottom of the Championship today, that did actually happen.
Ferrell was also at Wembley in May 2022 along with Reynolds and former England skipper David Beckham, watching Wrexham lose to Bromley in the FA Trophy Final.
Reynolds and fellow Hollywood star Rob McElhenney produced hit TV documentary Welcome to Wrexham charting their sensational arrival in 2020 followed by back-to-back promotions.
But insiders close to the Leeds deal said their new investor had no plans to film his own footy drama.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “As far as Will and the 49ers are concerned, this is a serious investment opportunity.
“He’s a Leeds fan now and will be supporting the team but won’t be bringing a film crew with him – that’s not in his plans at all.”
Asked about Ferrell’s Leeds link, a club spokesman said today: “We would never comment on the status of individual investors.
“It would be up to them to comment on any stake they have in the club.”
Billionaire couple Marie Denise Bartelo York, 73, and husband John, 75, run the San Francisco 49ers.
Its acquisition of Leeds was its first football investment and John York now sits on the board of directors.
A 49ers spokeswoman declined to comment.
This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.