USL Championship Lands More Investments From Pro Athletes

  • Loudoun United's new owners include the NFL's Yannick Ngakoue, MLB's Tommy Pham, and NBA's Jeff Teague.
  • Other former athletes with stakes in USL clubs include Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, and Marshawn Lynch.
More pro athletes are investing in USL franchises.
Courtesy of Loudoun United FC
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Retired NBA player Jeff Teague, MLB outfielder Tommy Pham, and NFL defensive lineman Yannick Ngakoue have acquired ownership stakes in USL Championship club Loudoun United FC. They have joined an investment group led by Jordan Stuart, a DMV-area real estate agent and director of Keller Williams Realty Sports + Entertainment.

The trio becomes the latest athletes to invest in USL teams, joining former USMNT stars Landon Donovan (San Diego Loyal SC) and Tim Howard (Memphis 901 FC) and former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch (Oakland Roots). Tim Tebow is part of an ownership group for a Jacksonville-based USL Championship team expected to begin to play in 2025.

MLS club D.C. United sold its majority stake in Loudoun United earlier this year to Attain Sports & Entertainment in a deal that valued the USL club at $40M, according to SBJ. D.C. United retained a minority interest in Loudoun United but is following a trend of MLS clubs distancing their affiliations with the USL support builds for MLS Next Pro, a new development league established by MLS.

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