Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nasr player (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo has acquired a minority stake in Spanish second division club UD Almería, according to a statement issued on Thursday by Brunswick Group, the consultancy that represents the Portuguese star.The company confirmed that Ronaldo bought a 25% stake in the club, which is currently owned by Saudi investors.
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The 41-year-old striker has been residing in Saudi Arabia since late 2022, when he joined Al-Nassr. His latest move indicates his ambition to expand his involvement in football beyond his playing career.“It has long been my ambition to contribute to football off the field,” Ronaldo said in the statement. “Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth.”According to Brunswick Group, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner completed the investment through his subsidiary CR7 Sports Investments.Almeria remained under Saudi ownership for more than six years. In the summer of 2025, Mohammed Al-Khereiji assumed the position of owner and president after purchasing the club from Turki Al-Sheikh.Al-Khereiji said: “We are very happy that Cristiano has chosen our club to invest in.”He added: “He knows La Liga well and understands the potential of what we are building here, both at the team and academy level.”
The financial terms of the deal were not announced. Almeria did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking further clarification.Almeria currently ranks third in the Spanish Second Division. The club last competed in the top flight during the 2023–24 season.