Cristiano Ronaldo has acquired a 25 per cent stake in Spanish second-division club UD Almería, marking a significant expansion of his involvement in football club ownership. The investment was made through his sports holding company, CR7 Sports Investments, which did not disclose financial terms for the deal.
The announcement, made on Thursday, states the move reflects Ronaldo’s “long-term commitment to professional football ownership.” In a statement, Ronaldo was quoted as saying, “It has been a long-time ambition of mine to contribute to football.”
UD Almería, currently third in the Segunda División and one point outside the automatic promotion places, was last in Spain’s top flight in 2024. The club is owned by the Saudi group SMC. Ronaldo, who has played for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr since 2023, already holds a stake in that team.
“Almería is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth,” Ronaldo added. “I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the club’s next phase of growth.” Club president Mohamed Al Khereiji indicated Ronaldo’s involvement would focus on the youth development program, praising his knowledge of Spanish football.
This investment adds to Ronaldo’s profile as a business figure; he became the first footballer listed on Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index last year. His recent football activity includes scoring four goals in his last three matches for Al-Nassr, having returned to the first team after a public dispute with the league’s Public Investment Fund over the winter transfer window.
At 41, Ronaldo is preparing for his sixth World Cup next summer but has hinted it may be his last. The Almería deal further illustrates the growing intersection of high-profile player investments and Middle Eastern capital in European football, with the Saudi-owned club now adding a global icon to its shareholder roster. The partnership is framed as a strategic alignment aimed at developing both the first-team squad and the club’s academy structure.
