“An upward trajectory”: Birmingham fans express their opinions on minority owner of Birmingham City club Tom Brady

Birmingham City, a football club, has seen a significant boost in recent months after NFL legend Tom Brady purchased a minority stake in the club. Despite this, Birmingham City suffered relegation from the Championship last season. However, they have now spent big in successive transfer windows, paying the three highest fees for a transfer in League One's history: €17.8m for Jay Stansfield, €4.2m for Christoph Klarer, and €4m for Willum Thór Willumsson. The club is now top of League One and is on track to return to the second tier.

ESPN reporter gathered with Birmingham fans to gauge their sentiments towards Tom Brady

ESPN reporter João Castelo Branco gathered with Birmingham fans to gauge their sentiments towards a high-profile stakeholder, the former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, Tom Brady, before the FA Cup tie against Lincoln City in mid-January.

Brady was appointed to Birmingham's front office by Shelby Companies Ltd, a subsidiary of U.S. financier Tom Wagner, established in 2023. The company, a subsidiary of Wagner's Knighthead Investment group, was named after him.


Birmingham fans generally agree that Brady's arrival is one of the most positive and exciting developments for the club in recent years. "Brady is a proven winner and he's hopefully instilling that here at Birmingham City. Hopefully we can go and win as many leagues and trophies as he did," said one fan, who admitted that he hadn't followed Brady's NFL playing career closely.

"I'm not massive on my NFL but his name is very familiar. I don't watch American football. But I still knew who Tom Brady was, which shows that he's still got a big presence in the U.K. Birmingham fans have been wanting investment for a long time, so I think we'd have taken anything, but having Brady as the face of the club is brilliant. It shows we've got high-calibre people trying to get our club where we want to be."

Another fan said: "Tom Brady's involvement really encapsulates what they're trying to do and really shows that the club is on an upward trajectory. You see investment going into the squad and you can see we're getting better because of it.”

Also Read: Joe Burrow burglary suspects are being charged again, with new evidence showing the trio flaunting stolen jewelry in a bizarre photo shoot

Brady's involvement in St Andrew's is unclear, but he was announced to become chairman of the club's advisory board. He has made sporadic appearances at the club, including in the "Hollywood Derby" against Wrexham in League One last September. His involvement remains sporadic, but he has made several conspicuous appearances in the terraces


Stay updated on the latest sports news and discover how to watch ICC Champions Trophy live in Canada and the USA.