Kevin Durant and Drake Invest in European Soccer Clubs

OK everybody, let's talk for a minute. Let's start by saying that investments in global soccer are nothing new as of late. More and more Americans have been buying teams. This is often in the form of private equity firms and really, really rich business folks. It's another investment in their portfolio. 

Now, in the past week alone, news broke that Kevin Durant, fresh off winning the Olympic gold medal in basketball, has made an investment and bought himself an equity stake in PSG. 

According to ESPN

"He did so via Arctos Sports Partners, the American investment fund which bought a 12.5% stake in the club in 2023, with PSG valued at $4.6 billion (€4.25bn). The aim of Durant's arrival at the club is to further develop the PSG brand in the U.S. from a marketing and sponsorship point of view, especially with the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup set to be hosted in America over the next two summers."

That last part says a lot and is a reminder of what is going tp happen with soccer in the US over the next few years. Let's also not forget that KD has his own sneaker with Nike and Nike is the kit supplier of PSG. Seems like a win - win for all inviolved. 

And then. And then...Just a couple of days leter. Drake announces that he is becoming an investor in Venezia FC through the global sports fcused firm APEX Capital. According to AXIS:

"Global icon Drake has joined @veneziafc investor group alongside APEX to fund the club ahead of its Serie A season. His Nike sub-brand NOCTA becomes the team's official kit sponsor, a huge step towards the merging of culture and sports."

With this move, not only does Drake become. an investor in the club, but they will also be kitted out in his own brand. And just like KD and his relationship with the swoosh, Drake's NOCTA brand is a sub-brand of Nike and NOCTA will be the jersey supplier for Venezia FC. 

Coincidence or new moves from Nike and some of their key partners...?

Big moves from big dudes. I have a feeling this is not the end of this trend. So the question is, who's got next?